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Sanwo-Olu appeals to Nigerians to embrace peace, unity for National progress

From left: Secretary of conference, Rt. Rev. Babatunde Taiwo; Lay President of Conference, Sir Ifeanyi N. Okechukwu; Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Oliver Ali Abah; representative of Lagos state government, Mr. Tayo Ayinde; Prelate Emeritus, His Eminence Dr. Sunday Makinde, Prelate Emeritus, His Eminence Samuel Chukwuemeka Uche and the Archbishop of Mainland Diocese, Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Revd. Obafemi Adeleye at the official opening ceremony of the 41st Bishops Council, Methodist Church Nigeria, held at Hoare’s Memorial Methodist Cathedral, Yaba, Lagos with the theme:’Arise & Build’.

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The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has appealed to Nigerians to embrace peace and unity for the progress and development of Nigeria.

Speaking on Tuesday at the official opening ceremony of 41st Bishops Council, Methodist Church Nigeria, held at Hoare’s Memorial Methodist Cathedral, Yaba, Lagos with the theme: ‘Arise & Build’, Sanwo-Olu said his administrative close ties with the Methodist Church and other religious organisations had deepened their understanding of governance’s impact.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde at the bishop’s Council, he noted that no government coud achieve any success without divine intervention and support from its citizens, adding that peaceful and harmonious living would galvanise the desired growth of the economy and foster prosperity for all.

According to him, at this crucial time, both the nation and the church needed visionary leaders to rise and rebuild the lost heritage, history, and shared values.

“Alongside these leaders, we also need men and women who believe in and support the vision of those chosen by God to guide us to the next level of greatness. The labour of our past heroes shall not be in vain,” he said.

Speaking to the theme of the council, the governor said: “theme for this council, “Arise and Build,” is timely for both the church and the nation. In the biblical passage that inspired this theme, Nehemiah and the elders of each tribe and household recognized the need to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

“The city’s walls, which once protected its inhabitants from external attacks, had been destroyed by enemies who had studied and strategized their assault, leaving the remaining citizens in a state of hopelessness.

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“Motivated by his love for his country, Nehemiah sought permission to visit and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He was determined to achieve this great goal and successfully persuaded the elders to understand why this endeavour was essential.”

He commended the efforts of past and present leaders of the church in spreading the gospel and influencing many aspects of national life and development.

In his words: “Through the efforts of our past and present leaders, the Methodist Church Nigeria has spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to every nooks and crannies of our nation, indeed, many leaders across the Nigerian public and private sectors, both past and present, are either Methodists or products of Methodist Missionary Schools.

“Moreover, the story of healthcare in Nigeria would be incomplete without acknowledging the contributions of Methodist-founded hospitals and medical institutions, such as the Wesley Guild Hospital in Ilesha and the Bethesda Hospital in Igede, Benue State.”

In his welcome address, Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Oliver Ali Abah lamented the current economic woes confronting Nigerians, saying “No doubt, times are hard and these are trying times for the Nigerian rich and poor. The present hardship is caused by factors such as: inflation, free-fall of our national currency, insecurity mainly due to kidnapping, our ailing industries and the unrealistic devaluation of the Naira, just to mention a few.

“Nevertheless, our hope is not lost in God. As leaders of the Methodist people in Nigeria, we have our duties to perform. In Scripture for example, we are enjoined to ‘Arise and Build’, through personal commitment, personal sacrifices, collective actions and joint prayers. MCN must keep praying to God, to grant us, economic relief.”