The Church of the 21st century needs to do more by encouraging her members to participate in governance right from the stage of electioneering campaigns and right through to the actually occupying positions in the political parties and participation in governance at the local, state and national levels.
The call was made in the 1st Distinguished Alumni Lecture titled” The faith once delivered to the saints in the context of contemporary socio – economic challenges ” delivered by His Grace, the most Rev’d (Dr) Williams Oluwarotimi Aladekugbe bishop of Ibadan North Diocese and Archbishop Ibadan Ecclesiastical province ( Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion).
The lecture took place at Otunba Subomi Balogun conference center University of Ibadan, Ibadan on Wednesday 5th February, 2025.
The call was contained in the press release issued and signed by Ibadan North Anglican Diocesan Communicator,Chief Solomon Olugbemiga Ayoade during the well attended lecture.
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To support his claim for the participation of Christians in governance, he quoted these erudite and world acclaimed philosophers, ” One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors -Plato,in his own opinion, Socrates said,” The wise who refuse to rule should prepare to suffer the misrule of idiots,” while George Orwell pointed out that”A people who elect corrupt politicians, imposters , thieves and traitors are not victims…but accomplices.
Archbishop Aladekugbe said faith is sacrosanct to the salvation in Christianity, if faith is removed then salvation is lost as a result nothing should be allowed to tamper with one’s faith, he emphasized
According to the lecturer, for the faith once delivered to the saints in the face of contemporary socio – economic challenges , christians are encouraged to hold on to their faith inspite of the situation they are going through be it economic pang, the imbalanced political structure and modern social challenges because challenges are part of this physical world and they are temporary.
The clergy in his lecture noted that christians nationwide along the adherents of other faiths are under economic pressure ,the situation which forced a cleric to call on president Tinubu during the burial of Akeredolu, the late governor of Ondo State by saying ” You said it’s your turn, now safe Nigerians from hunger” the distinguished lecturer further stressed.
Earlier in the opening remarks of the Vice Chancellor Adebowale who doubled as the Chairman of the occasion ably represented by the Director at the Alumni center prof.Olakunbi Olasope declared that there is a need for meaningful interaction between the Town and Gown.
The Vice Chancellor called other departments in the University of Ibadan to emulate the shinning example of the department of the Religious Studies in the Faculty of Arts by organizing similar programmes.
The lecture was well attended by the cream of personalities from all walks of life including professors not only from University of Ibadan but other universities, Archbishops, Bishops, deans, clergy and their wives among others.
