29th April, 2018
Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Methodist Diocese of Ereko has called on the Federal Government to redouble efforts to halt massive killings in Benue, Taraba and other parts of the country.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 2nd synod of Methodist Diocese of Ereko held at the Wesley Church, Ikoyi, in Lagos and signed by Rt. Rev. Olukayode Adeogun, Bishop of Ereko and Lay President, Mr .Gori Ogunyemi.
The communique viewed with grave concern the state of affairs in Kaduna, Benue, Taraba, Yobe, Kogi Adamawa states and other parts of the country, saying it was saddened at shortcoming in the fight against insurgency which had not shown any signs of abating.
It therefore called on the Federal Government to redouble efforts to secure the release of the remaining 113 Chibok girls and Miss Leah Laribu who was one of the girls kidnapped from Government Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State who is yet to be released by her captors on the reason that she refused to be converted to Islam.
The Synod also asked God-fearing and committed Christians to contest for offices at all levels in 2019 while also encouraging every Christian to ensure that they register and collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in fulfillment of their civic responsibilities .
The synod with the theme: “Strive for Peace and Holiness,” a gathering of ministerial and lay leaders of the church urged all Christians to live a life that reflect the virtue of peace and holiness which Jesus came to this world in human form to exhibit and thereby restored to humanity the glory which was lost in the Garden of Eden.
The Synod also lent its voice to the several calls for restructuring of the nation, believing that if attended to, it would take the wind out of the sails of the various insurgencies in the country.
The Synod frowns at lack of accountability and double standards at various levels of governance, hate speeches and the influx of illegal arms which were threatening the stability of the country.
The Synod commended the Lagos State Government for the opening of a mobile cancer centre for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, signing of the preservation and promotion of Yoruba language bill as a bold step in re-emphasizing cultural values, but noted that the present Cleaner Lagos Initiative had not met with the expectations of waste disposal in Lagos .
It called on the state government to address the obvious inadequacies to avoid the outbreak of cholera and other communicable diseases.
The synod said while promising not to cease to fulfill its role as the prophetic voice and vanguard of truth and righteousness in the nation, it would commit itself to continue to pray for peace and progress of the country.