EDO 2016: PDP ASPIRANT URGES CHRISTIANS TO PRAY FOR GOOD GOVT

A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, aspirant for the September 10, 2016 governorship election in Edo State, Chief Solomon Edebiri, has called on Christian leaders to be fully involved in the enthronement of the next governor of the state. Edebiri, who made the call at a forum organised by the state Apostolic Network for Christian Leaders in Benin, enjoined Christians and their leaders to earnestly pray for a peaceful transition leading to the election of the next governor of the state, adding that it was not right for Christians to be docile when people in government derailed from governance. He said: “The only time to disobey government as Christians is when they do what is not scriptural. When government is doing wrong, what do you as Christians do? Fold your hands? No, we need men and women of God who will speak the truth when it is required. “Men and women of God who can at all times stand on the path of truth should not tolerate evil, otherwise, we as a people will never get it right. Already, as we prepare for the party primaries and the election proper, I hear people are preaching war. But the greatest task before great men and women of God is for them to begin to pray that in this 2016 governorship election, no aspirant or candidate should emerge on the blood of children of this land to Government House. “I hear people say it is a do or die affair. I hear them say that ‘gentleman no dey’; that it is Okporoko for Okporoko, axe for axe and dagger for dagger. But I do not wish for any of these. It is the responsibility of the church not just to pray but to also get involved in the electoral process by voting for a better candidate. “Prayer does two things: It either opens doors or it closes doors. Let us, therefore, pray to God to close doors to evildoers and evil thinkers and open doors of peace. It depends on what we ask of God. This land has experienced evil but the Bible makes us to understand that Christians can play key roles in whoever governs the state.” “As mothers, you must stop your children from being used as political criminals, you must bring them into the house and preach to them on the need to enthrone a good government that will create jobs. When they become employed, they will plan no evil. We must pray against conspiracy, betrayal and blackmail. “President Goodluck Jonathan was a victim of blackmail and conspiracy. And here in Edo State, the people are at it again. But we must pray against these evil machinations. The benefit of good government is development everywhere in the land. I don’t want to lie and make false promises. I don’t want to be told and reminded that I have a good heart,” he said.