President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended Methodist Church Nigeria for her contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria noting the frontline leaders came through the Church’s educational institution.
The President spoke through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Senator George Akume at the opening of the 42nd Council of Bishops at Methodist Cathedral of Unity, Wuse, Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him “Most of the credible leaders ever produced in the country including Chiefs Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, and others were the product of Methodist schools.
”Methodist Church Nigeria has been fully involved in the whole process of civilization, education, social welfare and progress especially in pioneering the establishment of schools
In his address, the Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Dr Oliver Ali Aba JP, said the Bishops’ Council is the thinking cap of the Methodist Church Nigeria.
“The Bishops’ Council is the thinking cap of the Methodist Church Nigeria where the Episcopates of the Church meet to discuss ecclesial, social, political, and community issues so as to better the lots of the people”.
Prelate charged the Tinubu-led administration and state governments to tackle hunger and insecurity frontally as Nigerians are groaning.
”The three major problems facing Nigeria. These are hunger, inflation, and insecurity. At this stage, we as a Church urge those concerned to confront anomalies frontally with all honesty and seriousness, required of governance. We urge governments at all levels to ensure that these dangerous trends are checked, because no nation can prosper in the midst of these three problems”.
His Eminence Aba also commended the Archdiocese of Abuja for hosting the Council.
”We thank God for bringing us to Abuja, the Federal capital city of Nigeria under the leadership of Asiwaju ‘Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President Federal Republic of Nigeria and his able assistant, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mr. Nyesom Wike. We equally thank our host, the Archdiocese of Abuja for the kind gesture of hosting 128 Bishops in Nigeria’s capital city. May God bless the Archdiocese of Abuja, Amen.
”I am proud to be exposed to the FCT where good things continue to happen and where we keep enjoying relative harmony. In my view, Abuja, a miniature of the larger Nigeria is home to a large concentration of all ethnic nationalities and countries of the world. Abuja remains a place of delight to all Nigerians.
”As we gather here, the Bishops’ Council will pray for the people and government of Abuja so that we continue to have a very progressive and development-oriented metropolis.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who was represented at the event by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, (NCPC), Rt Revd S.T.V. Adegbite PhD, urged Nigerians to join her in praying for the President and his team to take Nigeria to the next level.
Nigeria’s first female Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), and the immediate former AGF, Dame Dr Oluwatoyin Madein and the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Rtd Justice Onnoghen delivered goodwill messages during the opening ceremony of the Council.
Earlier, the Methodist Archbishop of Abuja, His Grace, Most Revd Michael O. Akinwale, had welcomed The Prelate and wife, The Secretary of Conference, Rt Revd Dr Babatunde Taiwo; and all Archbishops, Bishops with their spouses to Abuja assuring them that al arrangements had been made to give them the best session of Methodist Council of Bishops outing.
The 42nd Council of Bishops was tagged Abuja 2025 with the theme “He will Rise Again”, John 11:23.
The Council of Bishops comprises of over 125 Bishops and Archbishops headed by The Prelate, His Eminence Dr Oliver Ali Aba, JP.
