Lawrence Achudume, the general overseer of Victory Life Bible Church International has charged Nigerians to pick the country first before ethnicity and religion so as to guarantee the much needed socio-economic development and peaceful co-existence.
Achudume said this while addressing newsmen in Abeokuta at the on-going 31st convention of his church, where he reiterated that it is important for Nigerians to stick as one and not allow ethnicity and religion divide the nation.
“The last election has already provided key lessons needed to take note of as a nation, and instead of taking heed of the lessons, some leaders are fanning the embers of ethnicity and religious bias to heat up the polity.
I am disappointed about the opinions and comments of some leaders, elites and state actors that should know better but are still making unguided comments for their selfish interests,” he said.
The clergyman also urged the citizens to ensure they are not used by any leader to foster their selfish political interest, stating that the slow developmental status of the country can be directly linked to the leaders and not the followers.
“As a nation, we are too slow in terms of development and social networking,” he said.
According to the general overseer, “Nigerians must shun ethnic bigotry on all grounds to foster development. Once we can speak as an entity, as one Nigeria, there will be development.”
Citing Britain and America as examples of nations that have prospered by saying no to ethnic division and bigotry, the clergyman urged Nigerians to put ethnic and religious jargons aside in order to foster development.
“We are Nigerians and we remain Nigerians before our religious affiliations,” he affirmed.
Speaking in the same vein, Fola Achudume, wife of the general overseer of Victory Life Bible Church International expressed optimism about the country’s greatness even as she charged citizens to make the fear of God and respect to humanity their watchword.
Source : Business Day
