Osinbajo, Obasanjo harp on righteousness, truth to move Nigeria forward at BSN summit

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo have tasked Nigerians to embrace righteousness and truth as well as diligence and integrity to build a country of their dream.

The duo gave the admonition at the Bible Society of Nigeria’s Christian Leadership Summit with the theme: ‘The Holy Bible: Our Reliable Foundation for Maximising Personal and National Well-being’, which took place at Radisson Blu, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

Osinbajo called on Nigerians to take cue from Asia that developed first before the West, adding that the latter noticing the sudden and rapid development of the West, conducted investigations and discovered that what spurred the sudden growth and astronomical development of the West to the point of surpassing Asia, was its following the principle of righteousness.

“Asians had a very long established civilisation before the West. Many of them have developed long time before the West. But all of a sudden, shortly after the protestant reformation, they suddenly discovered that Asians were stagnating and the West was developing rapidly.

They tried to know what was driving the West rapid development and through a philosopher, who was not even a Christian, discovered after he had sought everywhere to know the cause and did not find any concrete answer, eventually went to Churches and discovered that it was righteousness that was motivating them to be diligent and pursue integrity.

“Japan singularly too on noticing the rapid development of the West, had to send about 1,800 scholars made of young men and women to America and Europe who also discovered that righteousness, diligence and integrity, basically Biblical principles were the driving force,” he said.

He asked Nigerians to see the nation grow as they imbibed these values.

The Chairman and father of the day, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, asked the question that when we talk about personal, community, national and global well being, what do we really mean?

“God reveals Himself to mankind through many ways, but the most significant way that man can get the true revelation of God is through the Bible.

“We learn more about God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, the Church through the Bible without which man will be lost.

“The Bible makes it categorically clear to us that we would know the truth and it is when we know the truth that we would be free and then we can have personal, family, community, national and global well being,” he admonished.

Obasanjo called on the Church and well-wishers to participate in the building of a long overdue befitting Bible House for BSN.

The Patron, BSN, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd.), said the future of the nation and indeed Africa, is hinged upon our affirmation and irrevocable commitment to the Word of God, which is the only foundation for maximising our personal and national well being.

President/Board Chairman, BSN, Bishop Olubunmi Banwo, asked for support so that the BSN can do more than the publishing of only 26 languages out of about 500 languages that we have in Nigeria, an antidote to criminality in the country.

The General Secretary, BSN, Pastor Samuel Sanusi, said with the Bible, cases of kidnapping and all types of criminalities in Nigeria will be minimised if not completely eradicated when everybody have access to it.

“We are a member of United Bible Society placing God’s Word in the hearts and hands of the people and we serve in about 240 countries and territories across the globe. We have over 7,000 languages in the world.

“To complete a Bible translation would cost N120 million if completed within eight to twelve years.

“We need collaboration with the Church to help Nigerians and we need to build a new befitting Bible House to cost nothing less than about N2.5 billion.”

The President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Samson Ayokunle, asked the Church and the public to support BSN, saying if the Bible is translated in different languages and placed in the hands of the people, criminality will dwindle drastically.

Among other dignitaries at the occasion were Continental Overseer, Africa and Middle East, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Johnson Odesola, President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and Bishop Francis Wale
Oke, among others.

Other keynote speakers at the event include, Executive Director, Global Philanthropy, American Bible Society, Jane Jelgerhuis, Global Ambassador, American Bible Society, James Catford and Director of Church Relations, United Bible Societies, Dr. Rasalee Velloso Ewell, among others.