ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has reiterated his call on Christians to rise up in defence of the gospel and their faith in the face of growing security challenges in the country.
Diri made the call on Friday at separate courtesy visits by the General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church, Revd Sam Aboyeji, and the Senior Pastor, God’s Power Dominion Ministries International, Pastor I.A. Charles, to his office in Government House, Yenagoa.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, noted that a situation where Christians allowed themselves to be overrun and killed with ease by those who see them as enemies was unacceptable.
Diri reminded the church of how Christianity was clamped down in the Othman Republic, which is today known as Turkey and urged them to guard against a repeat of such fatal mistake anywhere in the world.
He also charged Christian clerics to practise what he called “old time religion” by preaching love, morality and the need to uphold the truth.
The governor also urged clergymen to hold the political class accountable by speaking truth to power.
He added that until the morality of the Church exceeded that of politics, there would be no sustainable peace and progress in society.
Diri, however, expressed gratitude to the church and Christians leaders for their support to his government and promised to continue to identify with them in every way possible.
The governor stated: “The Church here have been very supportive, cooperative and suggestive. And so, we take the issue of church seriously mainly because of our experience.
“You know there are different types of converts. We have the Bartimeaus converts, the Magdalene converts and the Lazarus converts. As a government, we belong to the Lazarus group where you were dead but called back to life by God.
“Almost everything was gone. Even hope was on life support. But God showed up and breathed life into us. That is why we are here. And so, we will continue to appreciate Him. In any case, there is nothing we can do to add to His glory. Because His glory is always constant.
“But I have always said that the Church needs to do more in this troubled times in which our unity and survival is at stake. We should not behave like the people of the Othman Republic.
“That was a Christian Republic but it was negligence and religious gentility that led to what we have as Turkey today. Christians should not shy away from defending themselves and their faith.”
In their separate remarks, the General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church, Revd Sam Aboyeji and the Senior Pastor, God’s Power Dominion Ministries International, Pastor I.A. Charles, commended the state government for working in synergy with the church in promoting peace and harmony in the state.
While requesting the government to support some upcoming major programmes of their respective churches, they prayed God to strengthen the present administration to enable it to achieve greater strides in governance.