By Ayodele Abere.
Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Olivier Ali Aba (JP) has described the current situation of things in Nigeria as temporal and assuring the citizens that everything would be normalized.
The religious leader gave the advice while interacting with journalists during a three in one programme of the church in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The event was for the inauguration of the Diocese of Ado-Ekiti, enthronement of Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Abidemi Shitu as the Bishop Diocese of Ado-Ekiti, and the presentation of Sir Chief Olajide Borode as Diocesan Lay President of Ado-Ekiti.
The Prelate said God is in charge of the nation called Nigeria, stressing that, “Nigeria is our country. There’s no other country we can call our own except Nigeria. At this point in time, we must all join hands together to build a better Nigeria for the future”.
As the general elections are around the corner, the man of God made a passionate plea for Nigerians to have the fear of God, urging everyone to go out enmass with their PVC on election day to exercise their franchise. He said at the end of the day, “God will give us whoever we want to be our leader to take us to the promised land.
“No violence, no thuggery, no any dangerous thing that would hamper the election. His Eminence”. Dr. Oliver Aba pleaded.
Also, the newly enthroned Bishop of Ado-Ekiti Diocese, Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Abidemi Shitu, noted that the office of a bishop is like that of a king. “We have our throne and that’s why we are being enthroned. We have our kingdom where we belong. It’s a spiritual office. It’s not like the secular. As a bishop, you are expected to oversee. There must be administrative oversight over the area where you have been asked to take charge”.
In his admonition, the Bishop said for anyone to be able to make use of his or her commitment and determination to achieve a self-goal, distraction must be avoided.
According to Bishop Shitu, “there are so many things that could get one distracted and that could also make one to forsake his calling. That’s why I am appealing to our colleagues in the ministry not to allow the materialism, the things of the world to lure them out of their callings.
“Once you are able to do that, you will be able to achieve the set goals and that’s to win more souls for Christ and to also establish peace wherever we find ourselves”.
The Bishop believed that what is happening in the country at the moment, is a test and that everyone will soon get over it. In his word, “I want to appeal to the electorate to vote according to their conscience and that they shouldn’t allow anyone to buy them over as doing so amounts to mortgaging the future of the unborn generation.
Bishop Abidemi Shitu also appealed to all the politicians to allow brotherly and sisterly love to reign among them adding that whoever is coming up as a leader in one office or the other at the national or state level, in whatever capacity they find themselves, should embrace their victory with magnanimity. They should be magnanimous in Victory and those who may eventually lose should accept it. The Bishop advised.
“Nigeria is our nation, we have no other place to go. We have to build it together. We should allow peace to reign and brotherly love to continue among us”.
Bishop Jeremiah Abidemi Shitu was born on the 22nd April, 1976 to the family of Mrs. Sunday Abdulrasaq Tijani Shitu of Ologbonnu Compound, Ikenne Remo in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State. He is a spirit-filled believer in the salvation of Jesus Christ. He was elected pioneer Methodist Bishop of the Diocese of Ado-Ekiti on the 14th August, 2022 by the Electoral College of the 48th/13th Biennial conference held at the Cathedral of Unity, Wuse 3, Abuja, Nigeria.
Also, the Diocesan Lay President, Sir Chief Olajide Ayodele Borode was born to the Methodist family of Sir Rufus Borode and Lady Deaconess Borode of Ilogbe Quarters, Ifaki-Ekiti. He is a member of Gbogi Methodist Cathedral Church and Pioneer Secretary of Christ Little Band which later metamorphosed to Christian Youth Association (CYA) Methodist Cathedral, Gbogi, Akure, where he was also a member of the choir. He is also a member of Christ Ambassador Association of Ifelodun Methodist Church, Ado-Ekiti.
The occasion was well graced by State Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Abayomi, represented by the Secretary of the State Government, Dr. Habitat Adubiaro, former governor of Ekiti State, Engr. Segue Oni, Aare Afe Babalola, traditional rulers and several other dignitaries from within and outside the State.