By Christian ABURIME
In a stirring address to the Church of Nigeria’s Anglican Communion, Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, delivered a powerful call to action, urging the church leaders to reclaim their role as a moral compass in the society. Speaking to over 170 bishops at their annual retreat in Awka this week, Governor Soludo painted a vivid picture of the moral decay afflicting Nigerian society, especially the youth, driven by a relentless pursuit of wealth without hard work and the insidious rise of idolatry which has become a worrisome trend in Anambra State.
Governor Soludo’s extemporaneous speech went beyond just a host’s welcome remark to pricking the collective conscience of church leaders against the “get-rich-quick” mentality that has taken root among the youth, a mindset he argued is fueling insecurity and making kidnapping a lucrative enterprise in Nigeria. The ideology of acquiring wealth by any means necessary, the governor warned, has become a cancer eating away at the fabric of our society. This pursuit of wealth, often without regard for its source, has led to a moral crisis, with young people increasingly turning away from the church and its teachings, and heading to the bush to join cults and kidnappers for power and money.
But Governor Soludo, always a fearless leader, did not shy away from critiquing the church itself, highlighting its complicity in this moral decline. He pointed out that many religious institutions have failed to question the origins of the wealth donated by their congregants, thus tacitly endorsing unethical means of acquiring riches. When the church turns a blind eye to the source of donations, Governor Soludo asserted that it loses its moral authority and becomes part of the problem.
Thus, Governor Soludo’s address was not merely a critique but also a roadmap for societal redemption. He urged church leaders to restore the right values and serve as models of integrity and righteousness. It is considered opinion that the church must lead by example by promoting values that prioritise character over wealth and service over self-interest. He therefore called for a return to the core tenets of faith that emphasized humility, honesty, and service and hard work over unbridled materialism and hedonism.
Judging by their rousing applause, the governor’s speech undoubtedly resonated deeply with the bishops who are tasked with not only guiding their congregations through these turbulent times in Nigeria but are also challenged to undertake more evangelism for winning back lost souls to transformative Christianity. In a sense, Governor Soludo’s vision for a morally rejuvenated Nigeria hinges on the church’s ability to inspire and instill these values in the youth, steering them away from the destructive paths of idolatry and pecuniary passions.
In closing, Governor Soludo reminded the church of its sacred duty to protect the spiritual and moral well-being of the nation. The future of Nigeria, he concluded, depends on our collective ability to nurture a generation that values integrity over wealth and faith over fortune. His words were a poignant reminder of the church’s potential to effect profound social change, urging it to awaken to its responsibilities and lead the charge for a better Nigeria.
Watch video @https://www.facebook.com/share/r/12H7vFrzCdd/