Anti-Graft War: Catholic Archbishop, Baptist Convention Back Buhari

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State (middle), Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Akuku-Toru LGA, Hon. Odimabo Torukwein (right),former Commissioner for Works, Chief David Briggs (2nd left) and former Minister of Sports, Hon. Tammy Danagogo (3rd right), during the commissioning of Abonnema/Obonoma Bridge in Abonnema, yesterday. Inset is the bridge

The Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama,  and the Nigerian Baptist Convention have said the ongoing war against corruption initiated by President Mohammadu Buhari remained crucial to the development of the country.
Kaigama, who is the president, Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), said this in an interview with newsmen in Jos, yesterday.
The cleric said the“ hydra-headed virus called corruption’’ had done a lot of harm to the country and messed up the lives of most Nigerians.
According to Kaigama, the church has thrown its weight behind the fight against corruption, and anyone found guilty should be brought to the “altar’’ of justice.
“Corruption has done us very deadly harm as a nation, and has messed up the lives of most Nigerians.
“The President must win the war against corruption just as he is doing with terrorism.
“This can only be, if we all vow to be corruption-free and those who have illegally enriched themselves in the past, make comprehensive restitution.
“Every corrupt Nigerian, no matter how high or influential, and no matter how long the act was perpetrated, should be brought to justice.
“We support this current wave against this deadly disease, because it will no doubt be a deterrent to those contemplating to corruptly enrich themselves,’’ Kaigama said.
The cleric admonished Catholics and indeed all Nigerians to desist from indulging in corrupt acts, as such would only lead to retrogression as against the absolute yarn for progress.
He further urged public office holders to serve with integrity and selflessness and thrive for the growth and development of the country.
“I look forward to my usual interaction with Catholics in high positions in government, to discuss with them on how they can serve with integrity and selflessness,’’ he added.
Meanwhile, the President, Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary (NBTS) Ogbomoso,Rev. (Dr) Emiola Nihinlola,  has said that the Seminary and the Nigerian Baptist Convention are in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade.
He made the statement in Ogbomosho  while briefing newsmen on the 2015 NBTS Annual Ministers’ Conference.
He said that the two major religion in Nigeria abhor corruption, sexual immorality and violence.
He promised that the Baptist Church would continue to preach against corruption, sexual immoralities and other social vices, adding that a nation cannot grow with the existence of such vices.
Nihinlola said that the NBTS would from September 7 to 10 host no fewer than 5,000 gospel ministers across the world at its 2015 Annual Ministers’ Conference.
He said that the conference, with the theme “Ministering to a Hurting World” was packaged to look into contemporary challenges facing the world.
“We will identify and train participants on how to minister to people within and outside the church.
“Ministration to those who are living in the context of poverty, violence, terrorism, persecution, hurts, pains, tears, conflicts, war, sexual immorality, deceit and corruption,” he said.
The Associate Professor of Christian Theological Studies said the Church would also define ways of reaching out to the people in need including widows, orphans, poor, strangers, weak, oppressed and the marginalised.
“The Church must do something today. The people in the world are living in want, penury, bondage and enslavement leading to anxiety, fear, frustration and hopelessness,’’ he said.
Our correspondent reports that the NBTS, Ogbomoso, was established in 1898 by the Southern Baptist Convention of United States of America for Christian education and leadership training.
According to Nihinlola, the Seminary is the first tertiary institution to award degrees in Nigeria.