Ondo poll: Christians urged to take active participation

Christians in Ondo State have been enjoined to troop out enmasse to choose the best candidate who has godly attributes that can translate the state positively and succeed Governor Olusegun Mimiko in this month’s governorship election.

Former Chairman of Northern Christian Elders Forum, Elder Matthew Owojaye, stated this yesterday in Akure during a two-day conference on transformational leadership.

Owojaye, who delivered a lecture on ‘The role of Church in Growing a Nation,’ said Christians should be ready to cast their votes in ensuring the expected transformation.

“We, as citizens, need to play our role by paying our taxes and cast our votes. It is regrettable that 50 per cent of Christians do not have voters card and those who have do not normally actively participate,” he said.

He expressed displeasure over non-committal attitude of some Christians on election, decrying the situation where Christians with voters’ cards would refuse to exercise their civil right, adding that whoever that refuses to cast his or her vote should not complain later.

Similarly, the regional and the state coordinator of Vision International Leadership Consortium (VICM), Pastor Peter Abimbola, remarked that the church should seek divine path of participating in the election.

Abimbola, who spoke on ‘Working with God to Determine the Future of our State,’ added that the area of responsibilities of Christian leaders was to cover both the political realm and the spiritual needs as God’s watchmen.

“We cannot be found wanting at this critical time when our state needs us most to cooperate with God to enforce His counsel over the governorship of Ondo State.

“As stewards of God’s grace, everything depends on us, our state depends on us, the course of history depends on us, because we are the rulers,” he stated.

The destinies of men and nations, he noted, are settled in the spiritual realm by unseen forces and it is only the church that can overcome the evil forces with spiritual weapons.

He asserted that it was through church intervention that positive transformation could be achieved in the affairs of the state, noting that this year’s edition was to equip Christian leaders for better effectiveness for the election.

Meanwhile, the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor John Oladapo, said Christians must take practical steps as agents of transformation regarding the election.

Oladapo, who led the conference of 50 delegates drawn from the 18 councils of the state, noted that Christians must shine and not compromise the standards of God, urging them to demonstrate and illuminate transformation seen in Christ Jesus.