Don’t engage in partisan politics — NASS warns Christians

By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure

The Deputy Senate Leader, National Assembly, Ajayi Boroffice, has warned Christians across the country not to engage in partisan politics, but only engage in prophetic ministry by speaking truth to power on behalf of humanity in general.

Boroffice, who gave the warning on Saturday during the 70th years anniversary of First Baptist Church Akure, Ondo state and N500million fund raising for new Church auditorium, however, said Christians must live according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

According to him, the Church of God has a role to play in Nation building saying “a thorny issue by any standard, considering the dire straits facing our country, Nigeria. By independent statistics, our country is in a perilous times, and exhibits many indices of a failed state.”

Boroffice, who was represented by Hon. Dennis Fadairo, the Director of Administration to the President of the Senate, said the Church should be a place for character formation and nation building adding that “some of the vices and crimes we witnessed in our society today boils down to one thing, that values and beliefs are gradually jettisoned.

“Character formation is that deeply internalized pattern of values and attitudes and the consequent actions that are often established in pre-cognitive times of life through the natural and normal educational patterns that are appropriate for young children.

“I doubt the spirituality of pastors amassing wealth from their congregations to buy jets, live in obscene luxury, and build schools that their peasant members cannot afford to pay the entry fees.

“We have pastors and men of God who receive huge donations from their members, who have no visible means of livelihood, without asking them how they made such humongous money they have donated.

“I urge you all (Christians) to participate in government, but let me sound a note of warning to the church. Don’t engage in partisan politics.”

Earlier, Olumuyiwa Ige, the minister-in-charge of the Church, in his 70th anniversary speech, said “it is not just a celebration alone but the commencement of building a great house for the great God. First Baptist Church is the mother and grandmother of the nearly all Baptist Churches in Akure and environs.”

According to him, there is a need for a new, befitting structure and spacious Church building, saying this would not leave out good parking space and good security for lives and properties of the worshippers and users of the promises.

Ige, therefore, urged members of the Church to synergize together in order to achieve the great vision of the Church.

Adelani Akanji, the President, Nigerian Baptist Convention, in his exhortation entitled “A Double Portion” which was taken from Holy Bible, Psalm 126, charged the Christians particularly members of the First Baptist Church Akure to always get ready to work for God, humanity and country as a whole.

According to him, Christians should continue sowing towards the work of God particular the sacrifice in order to enhance the gospel saying “if you give sacrificially to God, he will bless you abundantly in return.”