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By Philomina Attah
Pastor David Okoror, the Zonal Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Everlasting Light Parish, Abuja, has urged Nigerian leaders to use power and authority as a shield to protect citizens rather than as a sword to dispossess them.
Okoror made the call on Sunday in Abuja during the church’s Yoruba Cultural Sunday celebration, themed, “Our Culture Is Not Evil and Should Not Die.”
The cleric, who is also a security expert, said Nigeria was facing numerous challenges but urged citizens to remain grateful to God in spite of the prevailing difficulties.
“Nigeria currently, a lot of things seem to be very wrong. We have challenges everywhere. But the Bible commands us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that in all things we should give thanks,” he said.
He said Nigerians should continue to appreciate God in spite of insecurity, unemployment, hunger and other socioeconomic challenges confronting the country.
According to him, the fact that Nigeria remained united in spite of its difficulties was sufficient reason for citizens to give thanks to God.
Okoror said the church chose to celebrate the Yoruba ethnic group to appreciate the contributions of its people to national development and demonstrate the importance of cultural diversity.
He noted that Yoruba people had distinguished themselves in education, medicine, industry and various professional fields across Nigeria and the international community.
The cleric said celebrating Yoruba culture in a church attended by people from different ethnic backgrounds demonstrated the unity required to overcome the nation’s challenges.
“Today we are celebrating the Yoruba culture but the Igbo man is here, the Edo man is here.
“I am not a Yoruba person but I am wearing agbada and a Yoruba cap. We are going to eat amala, gbegiri and Yoruba food. That is how we promote unity.”
Okoror said the participation of people from different ethnic groups in the celebration showed that cultural differences should serve as a source of strength rather than division.
He urged political leaders and other public officeholders to recognise that power was entrusted to them to serve the people and improve their welfare.
“My message to government and those who hold power is that they should use power and authority as a shield, as a protection, as a covering for the people,” he said.
He explained that such protection should include safeguarding citizens against insecurity, unemployment, hunger and destitution.
“Covering from insecurity, unemployment, hunger and destitution. That is the purpose of power,” Okoror said.
The cleric warned that leaders who abused their positions of authority could inflict hardship on citizens and deprive them of their legitimate rights.
“When you use power as a sword, you use it to dispossess the people, you steal from the people, you take away their rights,” he said.
He, however, expressed optimism that Nigeria would overcome its challenges if citizens continued to trust in God and remained hopeful about the country’s future.
“There is hope, as long as God is on the throne. He will see us through the current challenges and take us to the Promised Land,” he said.
Also speaking, the Parish Pastor, Otunba Oreoluwa Ariba, of the Ariba dynasty, said the cultural celebration was his way of expressing gratitude to God through the preservation and appreciation of Yoruba heritage.
Ariba compared the celebration to the Oju de Oba festival in Ogun State, where he hails from, describing it as an opportunity to offer God the highest quality of praise.
“When you praise God, you move Him from His throne. It is the easiest way to get victory, to get answers to prayers and for God to fight your battles,” he said.
He explained that the church deliberately incorporated Yoruba language, traditional attire and indigenous music into the service to demonstrate that Christianity did not require the abandonment of African cultural identity.
Ariba said the celebration was intended to encourage Christians to appreciate their cultural heritage while upholding their religious beliefs and values.
Also speaking, Dr Bolaji Mejabi, a lecturer at Baze University, Abuja, and Chairman of the Organising Committee, said the event was designed to correct misconceptions about African culture and encourage Nigerians to preserve their heritage.
Mejabi said negative Western narratives portraying African traditions as evil had contributed to the abandonment of valuable cultural practices, some of which were now being appreciated and adopted in other parts of the world.
“Our culture is not evil at all. There are some practices we have to modernise, but everything should still give glory to God,” he said.
He expressed concern that many Yoruba children could no longer speak their indigenous language, greet elders appropriately or bear names that reflected their cultural heritage.
According to him, the Omoluabi ethos, which emphasises integrity, respect, love and unity, contains important values that could help rebuild Nigeria’s moral foundation.
“Yoruba culture is all about love, unity and respect. We respect our elders and show love. If we revive these values in our homes and schools, it will reflect in governance,” Mejabi said.
He urged parents to take deliberate steps to teach their children Yoruba language, appropriate greetings, traditional dressing and other positive cultural practices, stressing that cultural preservation should begin at home.
Mejabi added that teaching children the values of their cultural heritage was consistent with biblical instructions on proper upbringing, urging families, schools and religious institutions to work together to preserve Nigeria’s cultural identity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured cultural dance, drama, gift presentations and traditional delicacies.(NAN)
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab
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