The Arch Bishop of Awka Anglican Provence of the Niger and Arch Bishop of Awka Diocese Rt Rev. Dr. Chibuzo Alexander Ibezim has warned Nigerian politicians not to play with Christians ahead of the 2023 general elections in the country.
He said the country, as it stands now needed a committed, God-fearing Christian as President from the Southern part of Nigeria to succeed democratically. He noted that only a Christian President would drastically address the insecurity, political and other social-economic challenges currently befalling the country.
Ibezim further warned that the concept of Muslim/ Muslim Presidential candidate and Running Mate would spell doom for the country, insisting that Nigeria needs Christians to succeed. According to Archbishop Ibezim, who briefed journalists on Monday, at Emmaus House Awka, on the activities to celebrate his 60th birthday slated for Friday, August 5th, 2022, said, “Let me tell you, if Nigerians are going to succeed, the country should not play with Christians and whether you like it or not Christianity has suffered persecution right from the days of Christ up till now.” But as for what is going on the church will always succeed and so it is in the interest of that the church succeeds.
“Because any where the church doesn’t succeed that place will go back to darkness and for the Muslim-Muslim candidate or Christian-Christian candidate it is important that Christians should have a say in government.” We are not second class citizens and by the time you find Christians as second class citizens you are finished yourself; “I am looking at a Christian-Muslim Ticket with the Christian up there and a Muslim under him and that is my position and for Nigeria to survive we must recognize the church and nobody fights the people of God and succeed.
Reacting to the report about Clerics that attended the All Progressives Congress APC unveiling of Ahmed Tinubu running mate, Senator Shetima, Ibezim, said, I don’t blame them because when proliferation entered into the church many people call themselves Bishops and that is the effect of proliferation. If you come to the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN many people come and claim to be Bishops and if you claim to be a Bishop let it be that God has said but if it is not, the wrath of God will visit you. What they are doing is not of God and it is very satanic; he added.
He use the medium to appreciate former Anglican Primate, Pa Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye, for making him who he is today. He said that the former primate played a very critical role to his becoming an Archbishop and he will ever remain grateful to him.
According to him, God favoured him through Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye who took him as a son and made him whatever he is today. “He sent me to serve at Marina, Lagos and I stayed there for years. He took care of me, protected me. He played a very vital role in my life, if there is any person who played an important role in my life, the person was Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye. “I never speak Yoruba, I don’t know him and yet he took me and made me what I am today,” he said.
According to him, Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye nominated him for studies in America, where he obtained his Masters and PhD in Divinity. He said that before he left America for studies, the primate prayed and blessed him. He said that Adetiloye told him that he would be a church leader and today he is a church leader. Ibezim noted that he was made a Venerable by Adetiloye while in America, when passing through challenges to establish church of Nigeria in United State of America. “I want to advise any person that if God wants to help you he does not create barrier. God used Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye to lift me into prominence,” he said. He urged everybody to be patient and work according to the will of God for success.
