- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
Nigerians has been urged to continue living in unity, oneness and allowed total peace to reign for the country to be in her rightful place among the committy of nations.
Giving the advise, the Chairman, Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ekiti State Chapter, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Adeyinka Aribasoye, said this on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital at the opening ceremony of the 25th Annual Session and 17th Joint Ordination Service of the Ekiti Baptist Conference, with the theme: “Oneness in Love and Synergy”.
Names of the ordained pastors include; Pastor Adeniyi Clement Olaniyi, Pastor Adeoti Esther Funmilayo, Pastor Adeoti Stephen Olawale, Pastor Agbelese Isaac Sunday, Pastor Balogun Adewale Benjamin.
Others are Pastor Bamidele Israel Oluwagboyega, Pastor Durogbola IyanuOluwa Paul, Pastor Ilesanmi Ebenezer, Pastor Ojo Bolatito Grace, Pastor Olatunde Olanrewaju Andrew and Pastor Tewogbola Sarah Olanike.
Speaking with newsmen during the press parly, Rev. Dr. Aribasoye harps on the importance of unity in the body of Christ and called on Nigerians to work together to remain an indivisible county.
According to him, the theme was chosen to foster unity and progress among the Baptist faith, win souls for Christ and extend the message of unity to the country.
“This is the 25th annual session of Ekiti Baptist Conference in session. Our central theme for the session is ‘Oneness in Love and Synergy’. The text is taken from John 13:35 where Jesus was challenging his followers to love one another as himself as the Father love themselves.
“We are bringing in this because in the church, divided we fall, united we stand. If we are able to work as an entity, there is a great deal we can make for Christ for the field is ripe but the harvesters are few and that is why we came up with the theme to be able to win souls for Christ.”
Aribasoye who also doubled as President, Ekiti Baptist Conference, therefore called on secessionist in the country to embrace unity adding that the church is taking the lead in preaching oneness and synergy among the citizens.
“The church should always take the lead in godliness and spiritual inclination. Looking at the political terrain in the country, you know that Nigeria is not one and there has always been an agitation for a break up and secession.
“The Baptist faith is bringing this issue of oneness. It’s an idea that ones the church is united, we are also selling this idea to the state and to the country that Nigeria should be one despite our differences but nothing should divide us. United we stand, divided we fall. We are selling this idea to the country that we should be more united.”
The religious leader also tasked the federal government on the issue of fuel subsidy removal. He urged them to be proactive in alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians while urging them to judiciously use the monies realized as a result of the fuel subsidy removal.
“The country is being battered by this issue of fuel subsidy removal. The church knows that the common language that subsidy is a fraud and thanking God for the courage of the new administration of President Bola Tinubu to remove the fuel subsidy. We know that if this country must move forward that subsidy must go.
According to him, “the sufferings is biting harder by the day. Government should be more proactive. They are earning more revenue through this fuel subsidy removal. They should not hoard the money. They should spend it judiciously and make more move to alleviate this hardship.”
He said the Baptist church will bestow an Ambassadorial award on the First Lady and the President, Customary Court during the one-week conference.
“The Ekiti Baptist Conference has also put all plans in proper shape to honour two of our prominent daughters among which is the First Lady of Ekiti State, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji and the President, Customary Court of Appeal, Ekiti State, Hon. Justice Monisola Abodunde.”
Aribasoye enjoined the public to grace the occasion and continue to pray for the success of the events day-by-day and the progress of the country’s at large.
