Cleric Urges Leaders To Act For Good Of All, Not An Oppressor

From Idongesit Inyang

CALABAR

A clergyman in Calabar, the Cross River capital, has stressed that in a good democratic setting, every leader must have a sense of assignment to act for the good of the people and stop undermining their interest.

  Rev Emmanuel Edi of the Destiny Church International, Tilburg, the Netherlands, stated this recently, as a guest speaker at the just concluded Bishop Emnah Isong Annual Public Lecture, Book Launch and birthday celebrations at the Christian Central Chapel International (CCCI), Ikot Eneobong, Calabar.

  Speaking on the topic: “They Desire a Better Country,” Edi said that any good leader should fear God, feel the pains of the people and stop being an oppressor, adding that governance should be for all and not for the privileged few.

  According to the cleric, “a country succeeds when leaders cause their people to believe that it is their country,” explaining that, “the nation must belong to every person, no tribalism, no nepotism and no favouritism.”

  He said that it was good to hear the people as the country should be for every citizens, real and not manipulated, advising that the people should also be made to understand the workings of government.

  “Leadership should not be by force,” Edi maintained, explaining that for the leaders to gain the support of the people, there should be negotiations, consultations instead of force which, he said, has an expiry date.

  The guest speaker emphasised that people desire to know how they were ruled while best and qualified people should be appointed to positions not on religious or tribal basis, asking that there should be reserved positions for people on competence.

   “It takes hard work to build a nation as labour will definitely be rewarded”, the cleric also said, maintaining that “Nigeria needs stronger institutions than men.”

  The general overseer of the CCCI and national publicity secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Emmah Isong, said that Nigeria can be better if tribal and religious sentiments were neglected.

  Isong charged Nigerians to look for a credible candidate that can take the country out of the present problems as Nigeria, according to him, “is below average,” blaming Nigerians for always voting corrupt politicians.

  He asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), “to give election and not revolution” and to ensure that the “political goal post is not changed.”

Highlight of the Isong’s memorable event included thelaunching of a book entitled: “Ways To be A Shining Light,”song ministrations, prayers, cutting of birthday cake, among others.