Economic Crisis: Baptist Church Harps on Unity, among Nigerians

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

The National Body Baptist Conference has emphasised the importance of unity in the body of Christ and called on Nigerians to work together to remain an indivisible Nation as a way out of current Nigeria’s economic crisis.

The President, Baptist Convention, Rev. Dr. Adeyinka Aribasoye said this on Saturday, in Ado-Ekiti during the 25th Annual Session and 17th Joint Ordination Service of the Ekiti Baptist Conference, with the theme “Oneness in Love and Synergy.”

According to him, the theme was chosen to foster unity and progress among the Baptist faith, win souls for Christ and extend the message of unity to the country.

He said: “This is the 25th annual session of Ekiti Baptist. Our central theme for the session is ‘Oneness in Love and Synergy’. The text is taken from John 13:35 where Jesus was challenging his followers to love one another as himself as the Father love themselves.

“We are bringing in this because in the church, divided we fall, united we stand. If we are able to work as an entity, there is a great deal we can make for Christ for the field is ripe but the harvesters are few and that is why we came up with the theme to be able to win souls for Christ.”

Rev. Aribasoye went further to call on secessionist in the country to embrace unity adding that the church is taking the lead in preaching oneness and synergy among the citizens.

“The church should always take the lead in godliness and spiritual inclination. Looking at the political terrain in the country, you know that Nigeria is not one and there has always been an agitation for a break up and secession.

“The Baptist faith is bringing this issue of oneness. It’s an idea that ones the church is united, we are also selling this idea to the state and to the country that Nigeria should be one despite our differences but nothing should divide us. United we stand, divided we fall. We are selling this idea to the country that we should be more united.”

On the issue of fuel subsidy removal, the cleric tasked government to be proactive in alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians while urging them to judiciously use the monies realised as a result of the fuel subsidy removal.

“The country is being battered by this issue of fuel subsidy removal. The church knows that the common language that subsidy is a fraud and thanking God for the courage of the new government to remove the fuel subsidy. We know that if this country must move forward that subsidy must go.

“The sufferings is biting harder by the day. Government should be more proactive. They are earning more revenue through this fuel subsidy removal. They should not hoard the money. They should spend it judiciously and make more move to alleviate this hardship.”

Part of the activities lined up for the one-week conference is an Ambassadorial award that will be bestowed on the First Lady of Ekiti State, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji and the President, Customary Court of Appeal, Ekiti State, Hon. Justice Monisola Abodunde.