Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has called on Nigerians, especially religious leaders, to join hands to salvage the country from the plethora of challenges facing it.
Sanwo-Olu made this appeal at the official opening ceremony of 41st Bishops Council, Methodist Church Nigeria, held at Hoare’s Memorial Methodist Cathedral, Yaba, Lagos with the theme:’Arise & Build’.
He said all hands must be on deck to ensure the struggle of the nation’s founders and that of Nigeria’s past heroes are not in vain.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde, the governor noted that no government can achieve any success without divine intervention and support from its citizens, adding that peaceful and harmonious living will galvanize the desired growth of the economy and foster prosperity for all.
“The theme for this council, “Arise and Build” (Nehemiah 2:18),” is timely for both the church and the nation. In the biblical passage that inspired this theme, Nehemiah and the elders of each tribe and household recognized the need to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The city’s walls, which once protected its inhabitants from external attacks, had been destroyed by enemies who had studied and strategized their assault, leaving the remaining citizens in a state of hopelessness.
“Motivated by his love for his country, Nehemiah sought permission to visit and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He was determined to achieve this great goal and successfully persuaded the elders to understand why this endeavor was essential.
“At this crucial time, both our nation and the church need visionary leaders to rise and rebuild our lost heritage, history, and shared values. Alongside these leaders, we also need men and women who believe in and support the vision of those chosen by God to guide us to the next level of greatness. The labor of our past heroes shall not be in vain,” he said.
