Cleric to Buhari: Don’t label opposition as enemies of govt

A popular Lagos-based cleric and General Overseer of The Word Bible Church, Prophet Julius Kumoluyi, has cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari not to see those who don’t belong to his political party as enemies of his government.

Prophet Kumoluyi said while addressing newsmen, in Monday at Igbara Odo community, that rather than see them as enemies, he should see them as a veritable avenue to perform and impress Nigerians.

The cleric, who spoke after a three-day prayer programme in the community, said vibrant opposition was the bedrock of democracy, noting that the criticisms from members of the opposition as well as their political parties would help Buhari’s government in doing critical appraisal and adjust where necessary.

While commending Buhari for his fight against corruption, Kumoluyi said the president must realise that it would be difficult to eradicate corruption in a country like Nigeria, regretting that “the menace is deeply entrenched even in the house of God.”

He advised that it would be counter-productive for Buhari and his supporters to label those criticizing him as enemies of government.

He said his Ministry in the last 25 years had preached the gospel of peace, love and unity among Nigerians, saying “these are the qualities Nigeria needed to get to the promise land.”

Kumoluyi, who said God had answered the prayers of Nigerians on the issue of President Buhari’s health, urged the citizens to continually pray for the president, describing him as the only president who exhibited zeal to tackle corruption by all means.

He commended Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on his loyalty to Buhari and his scintillating performances when he was the Acting President, saying these had established the fact that he is a real man of God.

“Let me say this clearly, the worst is over on the issue of President Buhari’s health. God deliberately answered the prayers of Nigerians when he fell sick because he knew the man meant well for Nigerians.

“Since I was born, I have never seen any President who fought corruption like this. God wanted him to be there at this point to effect changes, so all Nigerians, including men of God must support him.

“Nobody should ever think of pulling him down or pray that he dies, whoever thought of that only wants to bring retrogression to Nigerians.”

On the need for the present government to accommodate criticism, Kumoluyi said: “Criticism is good for any democratic government and it will help President Buhari to grow and do well.

“The President himself said this when he met with national chairmen of political parties that opposition is good. But as much as opposition too must play its role, it has to do such without hate,” he advised.

Lamenting that the endemic nature of corruption in the country has made the anti-graft war very slowly, Kumoluyi added: “corruption will be difficult to eradicate in Nigeria, particularly among the present generation of leaders. It has become part and parcel of our lives.

“If we must eradicate corruption, we have to train the coming generations in the ways of God. Corruption has dominated our lives. Even that of the house of God is worse. For us to win the war, we must also have family values.

“President Buhari has been trying his best. I traveled regularly to London, they don’t have mineral resources like Nigeria and they are progressive on daily basis. They make their money from the people in form of taxes and rates and they are transparent with it, so I don’t know what is wrong with our nation.

“This issue of whistle-blowing is also helping this government. Our people must be conscious of one fact, very soon now, the Europe will no longer use petrol for their vehicles, so how do we now survive as a nation? So, Nigeria must look inward and develop other sectors,” he warned.

  Tribune.