By Obeten Godfrey
The Senior Pastor of the Calabar International Christian Center, Calabar; Pastor Emma Isong has fired what looks like a salvo to power hungry politicians saying that Nigeria as a nation does not belong to one particular generation.
The clergyman made known his position last weekend in Calabar, the Cross River State capital while speaking at the South South Nigeria’s Emerging Political Leaders Forum on the topic; “The Role of Faith Leaders in Politics” where he said some existing politicians see emerging leaders as threats and competitors instead of successors and pointed out that in Africa, political and leadership recycling has been the order of the day, with Nigeria not an exception to it.
“Key leaders in most African countries are between the ages of 70 and above. They say youths are the leaders of tomorrow, I want to ask, when is tomorrow coming? Why are old tired people leading new breed digital leaders? Its high time Africa learns from the western world by creating space for young people in government. Nigeria does not belong to one particular generation” Mr. Isong said.
He went on to challenge youths to prepare themselves to take over leadership by building their capacity academically, politically and above all spiritually. He averred that it is one thing to clamor for power and another to produce a new breed of leaders.
“How many youths can present a paper without plagiarism, how many youths are honest; how many youths seek moral and spiritual guidance? You must be spiritually and mentally prepared for leadership, leadership is not for the unprepared,” he said.
He continued: “You cannot take over when you are not prepared and have nothing to offer, you must be zealous, and always go for knowledge and also build character, because knowledge without character will reduce you to the ground.”
On the role of the Church, he said that: “The Church is the womb where political leaders are born, they were only borrowed to the world, and it is time for them to return back to the foundation which gave birth to them.”
He argued that the role of the Church cannot be overemphasized as it plays a pivotal part in the political setting of any Nation: “The Church cannot be sidelined in the political affairs of any nation; spiritual leaders must be brought in to participate in the emergence of political leaders,” Isong said and urged youths to seek God and prophetic direction in pursuit of their political adventure.
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