A Communiqué released at the end of the first quarterly Regional Executive Committee Meeting of the Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) Nigeria Region at the Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church, Rumuomasi, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, 22nd – 23rd March 2023.
PREAMBLE
We, the regional Executive Committee members of the OAIC Nigeria Region, held our First REC Meeting for the year 2023 at the Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church, Rumuomasi, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from 22nd to 23rd March 2023. We prayerfully reflected on numerous issues militating against the Church and the people of Nigeria and issue our communique as follows:
THE CHURCH, POLITICS & NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Church as an indispensable part of the society, believes that political authority is ordained by God. We believe that no leader can emerge if God has not ordained such a leader. It is therefore, imperative that those in political authority should strive at all times to pursue and advance policies that promote the common good of all citizens irrespective of their doctrinal, political or tribal leanings. The OAIC is a non-political Christian organization but encourages her individual members to join partisan politics and bring righteousness into governance when given opportunity to serve. We believe that political positions should be used as a tool for national development and not for personal wealth accumulation, divisive tendencies or to stoke ethnic tension that will drive wedge into our national peace process.
THE GENERAL ELECTIONS 2023
The 2023 General Elections have come and gone. We thank God that Nigeria did not burn down as widely speculated in some quarters. It was the prayer of the church and the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians that held this nation from tethering to the brinks. We appreciate all individuals and organizations that helped to douse the tension raised by political activities and we shall continue to pray for a peaceful and a prosperous nation. Now that the elections are over, we urge both the winners and losers to forget about the bitter campaigns and work together for peace and prosperity of the nation. Politics is a call to service. We, therefore, call on all politicians and public office holders to uphold the values of integrity, accountability and transparency in their daily dealings with the people of Nigeria when sworn into office.
INSECURITY IN OUR COUNTRY
We condemn the rising insecurity in our nation to the extent that road traveling is fast becoming a nightmare. We decry the activities of terrorists and insurgents, kidnappers and bandits that appear to have taken the nation hostage. We extend our condolences to the friends and families of people who have lost their beloved ones to the evil activities of these misaligned elements in our society. We are by this, calling on the federal government to live up to their constitutional role of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians wherever they reside.
POOR ECONOMY AND RISING COST OF LIVING
Due to negligence of the critical sector of the economy, mismanagement of resources, rising debt burden, Russian-Ukraine war, our economy is failing at an alarming rate, there is now unprecedented poverty and hunger in our nation. High cost of living, fuel scarcity and the ill-conceived cashless policy have all combined to make life unbearable for the ordinary Nigeria and it is becoming unbearable. The effect of this economic hardship is rapid brain drain and illegal migration leading to an upsurge in crime waves across the country. It is on this note that we urge the government to be alert to the suffering of the masses and design policies and economic recovery plan that will ameliorate the suffering of Nigerian masses.
THE CHURCH AS A BASTION OF HOPE
We recognize the role of church and faith leaders as bastions of hope and peace for the nation. Whereas other leaders can fail, the church must not fail in condemning all appearances of evil in the land. The pulpit must not be abused or mortgaged on the altar of political gain or greed. We must continue to raise our prophetic voices on matters that affect the nation as leaders in our own rights. We must not fail those that look up to us but must continue to point the nation to the path of righteousness and exemplary conduct. We observed with dismay conflicting prophesies oozing out from pulpits of renowned pastors and prophets in the wake of the general elections and caution that men should not take the mercy of God for granted by speaking in the name of the Almighty God when He (God) has not spoken. Such hastily concocted and politically-induced prophecies tend to bring the church to ridicule and make mockery of the sacred gift or prophecy that the church is blessed with.
CONCLUSION: A CALL TO PERSEVERE IN PRAYER
As Christians, we have absolute faith and confidence in the efficacy of our prayers. We call on our members and the churches in Nigeria in general to intensify their prayer efforts so that God who rules in the affairs of men will hear our prayers and deliver our nation.
His Most Eminence, Elder Israel Akinadewo, PhD, FCA
Regional President
Victor A. Ivoke, PhD
Regional Secretary