The Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed has assured Christians in the state that he did not influence or impose appointees during the process of selecting members of his cabinet and other aides.
The Governor gave the assurance while receiving the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson ‘Supo Ayokunle.
He explained that the appointments were made at the local government level and each of the 16 local government areas in the state was given free hand to choose those who would represent them in his cabinet.
According to the Governor, “some politicians even came to me to influence their appointments and I asked them to go back to their local government”.
Ahmed, however, told his guests that the only appointments he made were those of his personal aides, adding that “as a government, we ensure that we are being guided by our avowed principle of transparency, equity, fairness and justice”.
Strength In Diversity
The Governor also called on Nigerians to stop politicizing serious national issues and dividing the country along religious lines.
He stressed the need for all citizens to be patriotic and stop heating up the polity unnecessarily.
“We have to see strength in our diversity by de-emphasising things that will divide us as a country but promote those things that unite us”.
On the issue of land, the Governor emphasized that land management process was critical to the development of any nation. He therefore, tasked government at all levels to create platform of accessing land in order to unlock hidden potentials and create wealth for the people.
He also informed the CAN leaders about his government’s programmes and policies, saying that the government was working round clock to optimally harness the state’s resources without bias or favour.
The CAN President had, earlier in his remarks, drawn the Governor’s attention to what he described as lopsidedness in some political appointments, claiming that Christians were not represented.
Rev. Ayokunle, however, also praised the state governor for his giant stride in the state.
He highlighted, particularly, the sustenance of peace and tranquility in the state, explaining that peaceful co-existence is critical to the development of any nation.
He advised governments at all levels to imbibe the principle of equity, justice and fairness in order to give everyone the sense of belonging.
Touching Lives
The CAN President, who is also the president of Nigeria Baptist Convention, told the Governor a bit about the Baptist Church in Nigeria.
According to him, the church had 15,000 churches across the country with about eight million members.
He added that he considered the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Ilorin to be among the 20 best churches in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Pastor In Charge of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Sabo-Oke, Ilorin, Pastor Solomon Olawuyi James, said that they were at the government house to inform the Governor about the 50th anniversary of the church.
He told the Governor that the church had for five decades been committed to “preparing men for eternity with Christ and touching lives for global impact”.
He also enumerated some achievements of the church in the last 50 years, saying that the church also focuses on ministering to the total man by impacting their spirit, soul and body.
“By God’s grace we are touching lives, changing lives and raising champions to change the world”, he said.
