By Perekeme Odon and Shiloh O. Akinyemi
It was a convergence of leading voices of Christians and their families, who came in their numbers when The Voice of His Words Ministries of Nigeria hosted the Bible Speak Conference 2022 in Lagos state, as Nigeria prepares for the general elections in 2023. Participants were told to prepare to produce men and women of integrity who would fulfill the promise of Nigeria's prosperity.
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| Apostle Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi |
The exclusive event graced by senior religious leaders themed, 'Politics For Today's Church,’ which included presentations from prominent Christian speakers, commentators, contributors and participants took place on Monday, May 2, 2022, at the Great Commission Bible Church, 16A Olayiwola Street, New Oko-Oba, Abule Egba Via Fagba, Lagos State, and urged eligible Christians to register and collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to vote general election 2023.
The convener, Apostle Bolaji O. Akinyemi, a leading Christian advocate and enthusiast of the renowned Apostolic Round Table and President, PVC-Naija Initiatives, stated in his address alerted attendees that Christians must join hand to produce outstanding men and women of honour to direct Nigeria's affairs in 2023 and blamed them for the current calamities affecting the nation haunt.
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| Dr. Charles Eghweree |
Dr Bolaji assured participants that Christians can take charge of the affairs of the country and disclosed that the programme is designed to bring everyone in the Body of Christ together to understand the dynamics of politics, and the fact that there is no way that Christians can have good governance without being a part of the process, as everyone desires good governance, but there is a process that must be followed to achieve control.
“Politics For Today’s Church” is all about bringing everybody in the Body of Christ together to understand the dynamics of politics; and the fact that there is no way we can have good governance without being part of the process. Now, the yearning of everyone is for good governance, but there is a process that must lead to the emergence of good governance, and that process is called politics. And how do you play politics? You play politics by talking, consulting, debating and presenting your position. That is why this platform was created to educate the church that the more you talk, the better you get. To talk more in politics is to get more.”
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| Bishop Theophilus Ajose |
The keynote speaker, Head of the Department of Political Science, University of Benin, Dr Charles Eghweree, got the ball rolling and advised Christians not to stay in politics because they live in the same environment where politicians make laws, stating that Christians and Muslims are identified as the dominant religious electorate around the world.
“The demographic across the world identify Christians and Muslims as the dominant religious circle, and the church has become apolitical over the years. When you err to religious belief without the requisite political inclination, that will enable you to participate in the process of forming a government, you will be committing willful suicide. Because if you can avoid the political process, thinking that it’s for the ungodly, there is no way you can escape the unpleasant consequences of the rule by the ungodly.”
Dr Eghweree continued, saying, "In ancient Greek history, the Age of the Papacy was when the church ruled both politics and religion. It only changed during the Age of the Renaissance when the people became knowledgeable about their rights for a movement for human rights. In the Nigerian context, we became politically apathetic to the extent that we have given up all that truly belongs to us as a right.
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| Bishop Daniel Oluwajumade |
Bishop Theophilus Ajose, Coordinator, Directorate of Politics and Governance, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) / Executive of Directorate, Politics and Governance at the National level, in his presentation on money, pastors, and Nigerian politics, quoted Revelation 20. 15 and noted that till eternity, Christians should rule this world. Religion has been controlling governance from time immemorial from Bible time to the present stage.
“Religion has always been a pivot for political empowerment. No one becomes a president in Italy without the part of the church. You can never ascend to govern in Britain without The Church of England. Even in the USA, it is somehow evangelical to bring someone to power.”
He went further to state that the church has long been double-crossed by Nigerian politicians, who frequently take them for granted when it comes to political programmes and their implementations, by deceiving and ridiculing them with gifts that cannot solve any of their immediate problems; citing an example of a politician giving a bag of rice to the entire Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Lagos state.
He said, “For instance, the Church was locked down despite its strict observance of Covid-19 protocols. Politicians that are not Christians are controlling most of our Church fathers. Lagos is more Islamized than what obtains in the North. They have politicized many things against the Church.”
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| Bishop Steven Dada Ogedengbe |
Ajose questioned why the Church could not produce its candidate and lamented a situation where Christians were often used against themselves in most cases.
“We have received prophecies but where is the Joshua of our generation? It makes me sad that the Pentecostals are not coming together in Nigeria. If Nigeria is ripped off or saved today it is by the Pentecostals. We must work together as one. We must ensure that our votes count and are counted.” He explained while calling on all Christians to support the Directorate of Politics and Governance as established by the Christian Association of Nigeria and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.
In light of this, Bishop Ajose also informed the statistical force of the church that, “Christians command the political goodwill in Nigeria. Nigeria has the largest Christian concentration in Africa with a Christian population of about 125 million people. The numerical strength of the Church in Nigeria is more than that of the registered voters in the country.”
In his presentation on Family, State, or Constitutional, and Church Government, Oyo state clergyman Bishop Daniel Oluwajumade openly declared the failure of the church in its responsibilities and counseled Christians to study the three branches of government and apply what they learn for the benefit of and well-being of society as a whole.
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| Rev. Olu Johnson & Wife |
“The best government, which is supposed to balance the family government and the constitutional government in life, is the church government, but the church has failed. These were in existence to ensure that the social issues in society are governmental controlled for the peaceful existence of every nation on earth.”
Bishop Oluwajumade, Director of State Issues and Social Welfare, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Oyo State, urged Christians with political interests to be encouraged by other Christians in other areas of their respective callings and advocated that Christian seminary schools should include political theology as one of their core courses, which will help Christian politicians learn more about their political calling. He advised politicians who abused experienced men of God in their campaigns to stop doing so, or else they would fail.
The Oyo based clergy advised Christians to go about it as apostolic politicians, prophetic politicians, pastoral politicians, evangelistic politicians and econometric politicians, adding that, “All these will help them to operate successfully at their levels of elective and appointive realms of offices."
“In effect, it will enhance a peaceful, developed, loving society with the fear of God and political stability, as it will also lead to an explosion in professional leadership, poverty eradication, the entrenchment of cultural values, awareness and practice as well as allow for use of mother tongue language.”
The highlight of the event was the panel discussion, moderated by Apostle Mandy Nwachukwu, where Spirit-filled intellectual Christians shared their ideas and experiences about the Church and Christians today. The panellists consisted of Bishop Steven Dada Ogedengbe, Wisdom Chapel Worldwide and first Initiator of Inter-Faith Convergence on Security in Nigeria, Rev. Olu Johnson, Senior Pastor of Great Commission Bible Church Oko Oba / National President, United Gospel Churches Association of Nigeria, Comrade Ayo Ademiluyi, October 2020 Attorney of #ENDSARS, and Rev. Dr J.B. Odofin, Chair Emeritus of ECWA Southern District Council.
Bishop Steven Ogedengbe in his submission asked if the men of integrity would be humble enough to lead the polity in Nigeria like George Washington led the Americans with the Bible. However, he stated that what the church has done for our country is unsurpassed anyplace in the world, but we do not celebrate the grace within us.
“What we have done to this nation, as a church is unparalleled anywhere in the world, but we are not celebrating the grace in us. It will take a combination of political and spiritual power to bring the expected transformation of Nigeria. The Bible says the harvest is ripe and the labourers are few. The solution is in the church, but If there is no ambition in Christendom of men that are already tested on the altar, and have passed the mark of time, we are voting for nominal Christian, we will not get any result.”
Regarding women in Nigerian politics, Rev. Olu Johnson pointed out that men never asked before God saw the need for a woman in a man's life. He urged women to know their place in nation-building and to fully engage in national politics - they are the mothers of nations. “Women are however limited by their revolution of confrontation and non-submissiveness as part of the problems of women in public life.”
Rev Johnson explained how Christians and Muslims could advance Nigeria as God has a motive for bringing Muslims and Christians together as a secular state,
“God has his reason for putting Muslims and Christians together as a secular state. For that reason, we have to work together and we should work against divisive issues.”
Comrade Ademiluyi, quoting Joel 2:28, urged the Nigerian Church to participate in the election process by voting at polling stations. He also stated that he would prepare Nigerian youths for the elections in 2023.
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| Dr Bolaji Akinyemi & Bishop Dr Joe Ighalo Edoro |
“We need to stand as candidates in that election. The oppressors cannot be in the same party as the oppressed. As youths, we must test our strength. We need to challenge the processes as Christians. We should also be interested in constitutional reviews in the states.”
Rev Dr J.B. Odofin, Chair Emeritus of ECWA Southern District Council, advised the Directorate for Policy and Governance to come up with a roadmap for policy direction and called for Christian advocates to wake up every time Nigeria's problems are discussed, especially when it comes to passing legislation.
“We must keep in view the critical need to restructure our federation. it is not enough to have PVC if we are not involved in partisan politics where candidates are chosen.”
It was unanimously declared that Christians should not regard party appointments as a mistake or believe that Christians involved in politics are not genuine Christians.
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| The Moderator & Panelists |
Dr Bolaji concluded that the modalities of a Muslim-Christian alliance for good governance needed to be worked out to disarm the mischievous intentions of evil politicians in his interview with the media disclosed that, as the organiser of the Apostolic Round Table and president of the PVC-Naija Initiatives, he has been working on putting together the 2022 Bible Speaking Conference, which is more of a Bible interpretive forum with renowned men of God, for some time.
“BSC’ is the ministry programme of Voice Of his Words Ministries which is an Apostolic teaching ministry, and BSC is more or less a biblical interpretation forum. We felt it is our duty and obligation to offer the church the biblical interpretation and insight into what politics is, and how the church can play in it.
Dr Bolaji promised to fulfill the purpose of the Apostolic Round Table by leading this conference through the city of Lagos and all 744 Local Government Areas to create the connection and awareness of that unity needed for the church to understand that the place of agreement is the place of power.
“Taking this programme round the environs of Lagos and 744 LGAs in Nigeria is the purpose of Apostolic Round Table; and the commitment of Bible Speaking conference to bring interpretation and knowledge to the believers on how to engage in the field of politics.”
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| A Cross Session of Speakers & Panelists |
Present at the event are Pastor Timothy Olaniyan, Director of the newly established Directorate of Politics and Governance, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), who represented Pastor E. A. Adeboye and the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Nigeria, Bishop Dr Oliver Praise, Bishop Dr Joseph Ighalo Edoro and Apostle Sola Oyelade who represented the Diaspora, and a host of others. Solo Cosmos performed music ministration.
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| (l-r) Bishop Ajose, Bishop Daniel & Bishop Dr Oliver Praise |
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| Rev. Mrs Joy Akinyemi & Dr Bolaji Akinyemi |
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| Apostle Mandy Nwachukwu (Moderator) |
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| Bishop Daniel Oluwajumade |
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| (l-r) Dr Egheweree, Bishop Oluwajumade, Dr Akinyemi & Mrs Akinyemi |
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| The Choir |
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| A Group Photo of Speakers & Panelists |
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| Bishop Steven Dada Ogedengbe & Bishop Olu Johnson |
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| Dr Charles Egheweree & Bishop Daniel Oluwajumade |
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| Solo Cosmos (Artiste) |
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| Dr Charles Egheweree |
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| Bishop Ajose Hugs Bishop Oluwajumade |
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| (l-r) Dr Bolaji, Barr Ayo Ademiluyi, Mandy & Bishop Ogedengbe |
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| Dr Bolaji Akinyemi |
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| Dr Akinyemi, Bishop Ighalo & Mrs Akinyemi |
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| Salome Oputa |
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| Barr Ayo Ademiluyi |
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| Solo Cosmos (Gospel Artiste) |
