The Archbishop of Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, LCCN, Dr Musa Filibus, says Nigeria is in need of leaders who have genuine concern for the cause of the masses.
“Our nation Nigeria desperately needs leaders of integrity, leaders who are faithful to the people and trustworthy with their vows,” the LCCN leader said at an event in Adamawa State during the weekend.
Delivering a sermon at a special service, Bishop Filibus said former leaders and their successors in whatever sphere owe it to humanity to work together for continuity.
The service was organized in Kwarhi, Hong LGA, by the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, otherwise called Ekklesiyar ‘Yan’Uwa A Nigeria, EYN, for its retiring leaders,
Filibus asked the immediate past EYN President, Rev Joel Billi and his equally retiring Vice President, Rev Anthony Ndamsai to continue to pray and work with their successors to improve the EYN.
He said the church must show good example to a nation, Nigeria, where former leaders either work with their successors for their private interests or fight each other, also for private reasons.
“In Nigeria, politicians establish loyalty not to the people but to themselves,” Filibus charged, stressing, “In Nigerian politics, a governor plants his successor who will protect him and ensures that if he doesn’t agree with his successor, things don’t work.”
He charged the EYN family to point the way out of this and erase any loyalty to either the departing EYN president and his team or the incumbent president and his leadership and instead nurture their collective loyalty to the cause of Christ.
EYN’s Rev Billi and Rev Ndamsai formally retired from active leadership and pastoral services during the weekend’s special retirement service after being president and vice president respectively of the church between 2016 and earlier this year.
In his retirement remark, Billi said he was thankful that God had enabled him to pull the EYN out of much destruction caused by Boko Haram insurgency and he would continue to pray for the advancement of the church.
On his part, Rev Ndamsai stressed that he would remain loyal to the church and God’s people for as long as he lives.
The incumbent EYN President, Rev Daniel Mbaya who was secretary general of the church until his elevation into the office of president earlier in the year, said he is committed to the selfless leadership that has helped the church even during the worst years of Boko Haram attacks.