Elections: Learn from Methodist Church, Makinde tells politicians

The outgoing Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Makinde, has urged the political leadership to learn how to conduct smooth and credible elections from the various Christian organisations in the country.

Makinde said that politicians needed to find a solution to their electoral problems by taking a cue from Nigerian churches, especially the Methodist Church Nigeria, which had successfully elected a new head on Monday.

The prelate said this during a meeting with journalists on Monday in the premises of the Williams Memorial Methodist Cathedral in Ebute Metta West, Lagos.

Describing the election as a smooth transition, he said, “I want all politicians to learn from Nigerian churches, not only how to hold successful elections in the country but how to work together for the good of the entire nation.”

Makinde called on political parties to shelve their differences and unite in the best interest of the country, adding that what Nigerians needed most was good and purposeful leadership.

He said, “All the parties should come together and give us a good and comprehensive programme that will deliver the dividends of democracy to the people. I want government at all levels to look at the various problems affecting the country, such as unemployment, insecurity, lack of good roads, irregular electricity supply, among many others, and find solutions to them.

“Nigerians deserve good education, housing and other things that good governance can provide. Let the ruling parties at all levels of government think of how to provide these things. Let them concentrate on the people and not 2015.”

The outgoing head of the Methodist Church, whose tenure expires on October 10, 2013, urged Nigerians to stop criticising the country’s leaders unnecessarily, saying that unnecessary criticisms could distract the leaders from performing their duties to the people as they ought to do.

“It is not easy to be a leader in Nigeria and when then people criticise our leaders all the time, they will end up confusing them. The best thing is to pray to God to guide the leaders of the country instead of throwing stones at them,” he said.

Also, Makinde warned against allowing religion and ethnicity to tear the country apart, saying that Nigeria would be stronger and more prosperous if her people learned to live together in harmony.

The prelate-elect, Most Rev. Samuel Uche, who was in attendance at the meeting, described his election as an act of God and pledged to do his best to improve on the achievements of his predecessor.

“I pray to God to give me the grace to build on the foundation laid by the outgoing prelate. I don’t think I will do anything different from what he has done. I will follow in his footsteps,” he said.

Uche will be formally invested as the new head of the Methodist Church of Nigeria at a ceremony that will take place on October 6, 2013 at the Trinity Methodist Church, Tinubu, Lagos.