The Primate of The Church of The Lord Worldwide and President of the World Council of Churches (WCC) for Africa, His Holiness, the Most Reverend Dr, Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, has advised all Nigerians and indeed Africans to shun ethnic, religious and political sentiments for the purpose of development.
Primate Ositelu made this known at the special thanksgiving service on his election as the President of the World Council of Churches (WCC) for Africa held at the Victory Night Ground venue of the Church situated along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogere Remo, Ogun State.
You would recall that Primate Ositelu was elected as President of the World Council of Churches (WCC) for Africa by delegates at the 11th WCC General Assembly, in Karlsruhe, Germany earlier in the year.
While speaking to journalists at the event, Primate Ositelu said “My election as the president of WCC was a great testimony, I had contested for the presidency of the Christian Council of Nigeria, but I didn’t win, so I became the vice-president.”
He further said, “I have contested for the All-African Conference of Churches based in Nairobi, Kenya, I didn’t win, but I was an executive member.”
He reiterated that “The problem we have in Africa is too much sentiment unlike what obtains in Europe where quality is important, I was the only African in the parliament in Europe and they elected me as their president.”
He advised that “Until we shun ethnic, political and religious sentiments in Africa, we will not be better.”
The President of World Council of Churches for Africa, stated that one of his priorities would be that the world community of churches should take Africa seriously.
He said “We have taken a step and we want the church at large to be on the lookout as we will begin to unfold our plans from next year. We want to bring the World Community of Christians to Nigeria. We want them to come and see directly that the Nigeria they see from afar or hear about is different.”
“We will continue to preach to the people through the words of the scriptures to live amicably in truth and love among one another.”
He further advised that “The sky is so big for everyone to fly so there is no course for all these violence.”
The Primate said “The misconception and misinterpretation of the Bible and Quran are the major causes of violence we have in the society today and it can be overcome through advocacies and teachings among Nigerians.”
