joshua
By Stephen Adeleye
Lokoja, March 8, 2021 The President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence Rev. Dr Samson Supo Ayokunle, has urged leaders at all levels to ensure justice and fairness in leadership for the benefit of all irrespective of affiliations, beliefs or differences.
Ayokunle made the call on Monday, at the official Inauguration and Dedication of Government House Chapel, Lokoja, known as ”Chapel of Peace and Unity”, built by Gov. Yahaya Bello, after 28 years of creation of the state.
The ground breaking of the Chapel, was performed on July 22, 2019 by CAN President, and completed on December same year within five months.
The CAN President commended the governor for his goodwill and courage to break the jinx of 28 years which all his predecessors could not achieve in building a church at Government House Lokoja.
According to him, the governor and his deputy have done what is called, ‘Justice in leadership for the good of all’, to ensure justice, fairness and mutual respect.
The CAN President expressed his delight to be in Kogi State, and appreciated the governor for the opportunity of being invited to dedicate the historic chapel, saying ”it is a chapel of justice”.
”Your Excellency, your generation shall forever be blessed for standing for justice, inclusiveness, fairness and equity for all; may God bless you. Thank you for allowing God to use you to stand for justice”, he said.
Ayokunle enjoined other governors and the Federal Government to emulate what Bello has done in Kogi in terms of good governance, equity, fairness and justice.
He added: ”If we deliberately do justice, there would be peace and tranquility; in the atmosphere of justice, peace will definitely reign.
”We need justice, fairness and mutual respect in all aspect of our lives, if Nigeria is going to be one”.
He prophesied that the governor would enjoy prosperity and move from one level of glory to another higher level of glory.
He further urged the federal government to urgently ensure the completion of the rehabilitation of Loko-Abuja road, saying, ”it is a shame to be constructing a road that is less than 200km for over 15 years”.
In his remarks, Gov. Yahaya Bello, noted that it was only God’s help to have found the desire, courage and resources to build the Chapel of Unity and Peace.
”When we did the ground breaking on July 22, 2019, we promised to finish the work in December of that year. We completed it on schedule and put it to use that same year.
”Today, we are here to officially commission and dedicate it. We cannot thank God enough”, Bello said.
Represented by His Deputy, Chief Edward Onoja, the governor said that the Chapel had shown that ”our constitution guarantees of equality as citizens are binding on leaders irrespective of their personal beliefs, feelings and inclinations.
”This building speaks of equity, unity and the fear of God as the principal bedrocks of a diverse but egalitarian society.
”The building proclaims that inclusivity and equal access to government and her institutions at the inalienable right of all citizens, among others”.
The governor further thanked CAN in Kogi and at the national level for standing solidly with the government in the actualisation of the peoject.
He solicited for prayers and support of the entire Christian community, to be able to do all that God of heaven had commanded for the people of Kogi State.
Also speaking, the CAN Chairman in Kogi, Dr John Ibenu, said that God in heaven had brought the governor to to do His will, and urged him to continue to seek and do the will of God.
Ibenu stressed that God had used the governor to answer 28 years’ prayer and yearning of the Christian body in Kogi, and prayed God to grant the governor his deepest desires.
”His Excellency is a leader that believes in treating all Faith equally, fairly and respectably. He has demonstrated that over and over.
Ibenu thanked the CAN President for having a very soft spot for Kogi State, and for his continuous prayer for the governor.
He also called on the Federal government to as a matter of urgency complete the Lokoja-Abuja road, saying the road was worsening on daily basis.
The leadership of CAN in Kogi State, conferred an Award of ”Friend Of The Church”, on the governor, as a way of appreciating his love for CAN.
Other dignitaries at the occasion were: the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Afolashade Ayoade; Speaker Kogi House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Matthew Kolawole; and State Commissioners
Others included: Zonal CAN Chairman, North Central, Dr Israel Akanji, Traditional Rulers, Leaders of all the Five blocs of CAN in Kogi, JNI, among others.
