DO NOT USE YOUR POWER TO INPROVERISH THE PEOPLE . . . Goodluck Ebele Jonathan tells political office holders

By Mike ALADENIKA. 

Nigeria's Former President, Goodluck  Ebele Jonathan has called on all political Office holders, Community and spiritual leaders  never to see their elevation to position of authority as a means to punish the people they are to lead.

Former President Jonathan who stated this in Benin on Sunday while delivering an address at the 50th birthday celebration of Apostle Charles Osazuwa, President of the Rock of Ages Christian Assembly  said "i have never believed in the use of mere political office which is temporary  to punish people".

“My belief, particularly when I joined politics was not to use a temporary privilege, a temporary position God has given to me to punish people,’’ stressing that "people would always be remembered for the legacies they left behind".

“Some of the things I did while in office to which people still make reference were based on my conviction not to use my position to cause the death of anybody.

“Any position I have occupied by divine providence should not be used to create hardship for other people,’’ he said.

Jonathan commended Pastor Osazuwa for his accomplishments from a very humble beginning, saying “his profile reminds me of the humble beginnings of some of our church leaders and, even Christ.

“Most great men of God came from very humble beginning and we are happy that Pastor Charles has impacted on the society at just 50.”

In his address, Edo State Gov. Godwin Obaseki lauded Apostle Osazuwa for using the word of God to address current realities and challenges facing the country.

“What singles you (Apostle Osazuwa) out is your ability and capacity to use and link the challenges we are having today as a country with the scriptures and to use same to give hope to the people particularly the youths.

“Apostle Osazuwa understands the role of God and the role of the scripture in our modern society; nobody, in my view has been able to explain things the way he does.

“Government helps to organise us and when government fails to help us to express ourselves, it’s the church and men of God like you that help us to pick up the piece; government will always be grateful to people like you,’’ he said.

To Delta State Gov. Dr.  Ifeanyi Okowa, who was also in attendance,  the Church is in a position to proffer solutions to challenges facing the nation and urged its ministers to continue to speak truth to power as well as stand in gap for the people.

“It is important for us as church leaders to speak out boldly in the interest of the nation because the prophetic words that come from their mouth will also help to change this nation.

“The problems that we have in the nation today will be solved through the church because the Lord will hear the prayers of the church,” Okowa stated.

On his part, Edo Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, described Osazuwa as a living legend who understood the role of God in modern society by linking current societal challenges with the Bible to give hope to the people.

“We are celebrating a man of distinction, a man who is living with the tradition of Pentecostalism in Nigeria.

“Pastor Osazuwa was one of those who looked up to our father, late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, and to the glory of God he has accomplished  a lot at just 50,” Obaseki stated.

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa, who was represented by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpor, urged church leaders to tell truth to people in authority and speak out, especially with the prevailing challenges in the nation.

Earlier in his sermon titled “Thanking God in the third Dimension”, Pastor Osazuwa called on Christians to always remember what God did in their lives.

He said that only those who remembered what God did in their lives would remember to give Him thanks.

Quoting from the Bible, Osazuwa said God would destroy those who did not remember His works but would bless those who remembered and gave thanks.

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