The Bishop, Ibadan Anglican Diocese, Most Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa, has urged Nigerians to do away with nepotism and parochial sentiments in voting during the 2023 general elections.
Akinfenwa gave the advice on Sunday at the Diocesan 2022 Jesus Festival/Harvest Thanksgiving held in Ibadan.
The program had its theme as “In the Presence of God, Psalm 16:11”.
While emphasizing the importance of electing accountable leaders, Akinfenwa urged Nigerians to rise to face the reality of the need for good governance as the elections drew near.
“The era of rhetorical manifestos without reality is over, if we want to bring a change, we should do away with nepotism and ethnicity,” he said.
The Anglican bishop urged, especially Christians, to come to God in prayers as Nigeria was going through transition.
“All things giving us anxiety have the answers with God, if only we can seek Him.
“Nigeria is not the problem; we are the ones who have not stayed in our place in God.
“If we continue to act as if the Nigerian problem can be resolved only by unacceptable ways, we will roll in the mud with pigs and the world will not know the difference between us and them.
“We should engage in our superior weapon of prayer because when we pray, pray and pray, we move the divine hand into action.
“Let no one deceive you that prayer is not necessary, that we have prayed enough, yes it’s time for action but our most important action now is actually prayer,” he said.
Akinfenwa also urged them to cease to be part of the problem but the solution.
He further called on Christians across the country to unite in prayer in spite of the denomination.
“Let’s cry to God from our hearts, let’s dedicate quality time to corporate prayers, that same God who answered us, saved Nigeria in the past will save us again.
“We have reached a point whereby mere talk is no longer enough, Nigerians must act quickly to rescue the nation from destruction.
“We the citizens just have to help our government, the time to act is now, May 29, 2023 may be too late.
“God save our country and bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
In his sermon, Ven. Isaac Akinade from Ibadan-North Anglican Communion, urged Christians to imbibe the culture of giving thanks and their substances to God.
He urged them to emulate the life of Noah in the Bible, who obtained favour from God because he lived a life of sacrifice.
Akinade stressed the need for them to be willing and obedient to eat the fruit of the land.
“Be righteous in all your ways because you can’t continue to sin and say that you are in the Lord.
“Don’t see being perfect as an impossible principle, Jesus has given us all that we need to fulfill salvation, sanctification and consecration.
“We need to task for bread of life and need restoration to be in the ark of salvation,” he said.
The week-long program started on Oct. 23 and ended on Sunday.
It featured Bible quiz, crusade, rally, workers’ conference, among other activities.
