Former Senate Leader, Mr Ndoma Egba, has charged Christians in the country to rise and be prepared to participate actively in the 2023 general elections.
Egba gave the charge on Monday in Calabar during a colloquium in honour of Most Rev. Tunde Adeleye of the Anglican Communion.
The event, with the theme, “Leadership challenge and national rebirth: Solution from the Christian perspective,” was organised to celerate Adeleye at 71.
Egba, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, wondered why Christians, “in the name of holiness, would always want to stay away from politics”.
He regretted that religion and ethnicity had kept the nation far under-developed, adding that the country had a fundamental problem of integration.
According to him, in most Asian countries, people use religion to promote development but in Nigeria, the reverse is the case.
“Our own religion should not take us backward. How come our own Christian folks act indifferentl?
“The church must mobilize it’s members to be actively involved in politics,” he said.
Egba congratulated the septuagenarian for being outspoken and actively involved in the affairs of the state, the Niger Delta region and nation at large.
Speaking on the theme of the lecture, Adeleye urged the electorate to elect leaders that have the interest of the people at heart in 2023.
Adeleye, a die-hard advocate of federalism and restructuring, hoped for the emergence of selfless leaders that would be willing to restructure the country to ensure sustainable development.
He thanked the Anglican Communion for organising the event in his honour, saying he had never celebrated his birthday before.
In a keynote address, Most Rev. Blessing Enyindah, Archbishop, Ecclesiastical Province of Niger Delta, said it is the civic responsibility of Christians to participate in elections and not sit back and watch.
Enyindah said the Bible justified Christians involvement in politics, adding that there was an urgent need for them to take up political positions in the nation.
“The fight against corruption must be a collective one. “Christians must therefore leave an exemplary life in this regard.
“The boldness to speak up against corruption will yield good harvest, if Christians should participate in politics.
“We must now begin to mentor the next leaders as we get ready for the next election in 2023.
“It is imperative to prepare the minds of those who will be our leaders,” she said.
