…AS MCN LAGOS WEST PRAYS FOR THEM, GIVES AWARDS

It was a joyful moment for the faithful of the Diocese of Lagos West, Methodist Church Nigeria (MCN) as they marked the 5th anniversary of the diocese. The theme of the celebration was I am doing a new thing, cited from (Isaiah 43:19). Life Time/Excellent Leadership Awards was part of the event, which held last Sunday at the Methodist Church, Opebi, Lagos.

Those who received awards were Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola , Governor of Lagos State; Chief Okoya Thomas, Asoju Oba of Lagos; Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God; Professor Pat Utomi, CEO, Centre for Values in Leadership and Director, Business School; Chief Paschal Dozie, Chairman of MTN Limited; Chief Cosmas Maduka, Chairman, Coscharis Group; Evang. Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, renowned gospel musician; Sir Akintola Williams, Founder of Deloitte Firm of Chartered Accountants; and Sir Demola Aladekomo, CEO, Chams Nigeria Limited.

Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, Methodist Church Nigeria Rt. Rev. Isaac Ayo Olawuyi said the award served as an encouragement for men and women to perform remarkable acts for the benefit of humanity.

'We deemed it fit to use the medium of our 5th anniversary as Diocese to offer special prayers for leaders in every sector of our economy and publicly acknowledge the superlative contributions of some well meaning Nigerians to the spiritual and socio-economic growth of Nigeria and the emergency of a new era in every sphere of our national life,' he stated.

Meanwhile, Olawuyi condemned the incessant killings in the Northern part of the country, saying it must stop.

His words: 'God being our help, we intend to stem the tide of evil incursions into the fabric of our hitherto peaceful society. Today, people are no longer safe on account of the dastardly killings of innocent souls in the name of Boko Haram. This is indeed a menace we hope to mobilize men and women of goodwill to constantly stand in the gap and intercede for God to disarm them and make an open show of them.

The cleric called on religious leaders to come together and proffer solutions that would bring about lasting peace, adding that, where there is so much insecurity and intense fear in the air, nothing really can work as no serious investor will think of parting with his funds for any productive venture.

'In as much as we believe God for more of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), this will be a mirage if the safety of lives and properties cannot be guaranteed. The truth must be told. God is not a helpless God that cannot contend for himself. No one can play God or fight for God. Using the name of God therefore to kill, steal, maim or destroy could only be seen as an affront against God whom they claim to defend. Boko Haram insanity therefore must stop'.

' Religious leaders both Christian faith and Islamic faith must rise up to condemn it or be prepared to be found culpable. Whether or not they are faceless, they must be rooted out,' he added.

Olawuyi lamented that Nigeria was at a crossroad in terms of moral values and that the youths were the most vulnerable segment in the society, pointing out that the church would work harder to strengthen all channels of true spiritual information to the people.