(From 3rd left) Provost, Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos Diocese, Very Revd. Adebola Ojofeitimi; Registrar of the Church, Barr. Olusegun Ajayi; Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, . The Rt. Rev. Humphrey Olumakaiye and others during the new year services at the Cathedral Church of Christ, marina Lagos
By Odinaka Uruakpa
The bishop of the Diocese of Lagos , Anglican communion, The Rt. Rev.. Humphrey Olumakaiye has tasked Nigerian Christians to promote godly virtues as well as make life worth living for themselves and the people around them.
Olumakaiye who gave this charge at the new year service held at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos also urged Christmas to be altruistic in all that they do.
Said he: “Christians should promote Christ-like virtues and reflect Christ in whatever we do; we should not promote self; or be egoistic. We should live lives that are worthy of emulation, and also make life worth living for people around us”.
While calling on citizens to live a godly life, as well as assuring them of a brighter future, he urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the face of challenges confronting the country.
Said Olamakaiye: “I urge us to live godly lives, and that we shouldn’t lose hope in the face of challenges in the country. We should be hopeful that at the end of the tunnel, there certainly will be light”.
Praying for the unity of the Nigeria, he urged citizens not to relent in their prayer for the country in the new year.
Said the cleric: “We can’t pray enough as a nation and I want to say that this year should be committed to serious and intensive prayers. Everybody should seek God first, so that things will be well and the nation will be together”.
On leadership problems in the country, he said: “Yes, leadership problem is not physical but spiritual, and my advice for our leaders is that they should return back to God.
“We should go back to the ancient path of true godliness, through obedience to the word of God; the ancient path of honesty, ancient path of dignity and labour and selfless service; that is my advice”.
The bishop said that if leaders become contentious to the ways of God, that they wiill be able to meet the needs of the masses, and make life worth living for the people.
On the continued captivity of Leah Sharibu and others by members of the Boko Haram sect, the cleric said: ” The federal government needs to intensify efforts in making sure that Leah and others are released. The government should do everything possible in getting them released; that is what they should do. On our path, we should continue to pray for the government.
Said he: “We should pray that wherever Leah is, God will protect her. She will be under divine protection, the Lord will be her fortress, her buckler and her strength. I believe that she will come back to us very soon, and she shall be celebrated by the Christendom”.
