The Supreme Head of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church, His Most Eminence, Dr Prophet Solomon Adegboyega Alao JP, has urged government at all levels to stop funding citizens’ trips to places of pilgrimage, saying such funding should be redirected to other critical areas that will benefit all and sundry.
“The government should completely stop funding religious pilgrimage in any form and use the huge expenses for the benefit of all Nigerians and not for a few pilgrimage-thirsty Nigerians,” Alao said on Monday at a press conference to herald the church’s annual general conference themed: ‘Enlarge the place of thy tent.’
The man of God also urged the Federal Government to develop the political will to restructure the country with a view to dissolving the central power.
The leader, who noted that the agitation for restructuring had continued unabated, urged the Federal Government to consider the regional Federalism so as to decentralise power.
Alao further urged the Federal Government to pursue its fight against corruption with a renewed determination by starting with the political officeholders.
He said, “Our dear country and leaders need our ceaseless prayers. It would be a self-deceit if we conclude that all is well. This is the right time to develop a political will to restructure this country with a view to taking time to take too many loads off the Federal Government. Competition to control the centre is a recipe for an eventual breakup and that is why we need to give serious thoughts to going back to regional federalism.
“A simple amendment to our constitution to allow resources to be controlled by each state as it was during the time of our founding fathers. We should not waste any more time before the country goes the Soviet Union way and I want to plead with the present administration to put restructuring in place ahead of 2023.
“The Federal Government needs to also renew its war against corruption by starting with those at roadblocks. Factors that breed corruptions are tackled from the root, stem and branch and the starting point should be with political office holders and uniformed men and women at checkpoints and borders. I challenge the government to seek unnecessary self-centeredness and political expediency and save us from further bleeding.”
Speaking on the church’s conference, Alao noted that the programme which would take place from January 30 to February 2, 2020, was set up to ensure a renewed determination for a united indivisible church to fulfil the dream of the founder of the church.
He said, “The conference is taking place at Ashi Road, Bashorun, Ibadan, Oyo State, with the theme “ENLARGE THE PLACE OF THY TENT”. It is significant in the sense that it is the first at the beginning of a new decade and the new political administration in Oyo State in which the main opposition party is now in power on which the expectation of the majority of the people in the state is very high.
“With this year’s conference, our forefront obsession is to ensure with renewed determination a virile, united indivisible and vision-fulfilled Pentecostal Cherubim and Seraphim Church as well as a pride to Africa in particular under one shepherd to fulfil the dream of the founder, St. Moses Orimolade Tunolase. Building on the 2019 conference theme “Pulling Down the Barriers”, we would strive to bring others on board.”
Alao said since 1986 when the Unification set sail, some measures of progress had been achieved for which the church was proud.
He said, “We are proud of the modest achievements by overcoming the prejudice arising from crass ignorance or self-imposed refusal to appreciate the fact that in any society or organisation, there will always be a bad egg. We are also witnessing a decline in ignorance or self-imposed refusal by many to see the divine mission of Cherubim and Seraphim Church as the last Ark of Noah, the first African Pentecostal organisation which for various reasons is now becoming a role model in the Christendom.
“Our liturgy is now copied in Nigeria and elsewhere. This becomes more evident when one compares our mode of services with various other churches in the last fifteen years. Admittedly, there are bad eggs in our midst as they abound elsewhere. Notwithstanding the crass ignorance of most fanatics critics, I am proud to be a Seraph.
“We have the enviable achievement of being the first Christian denomination to plant our flag at the United Nations in New York, USA. Thanks to the ambassador plenipotentiary of white garment churches, her grace, Rev. Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi.”
Speaking on the proposed Moses Orimolade University, Alao, said: “Along with other seraphs here and in the Diaspora, we are currently engaged in putting in place a first-class university in Omu-Aran and we have our trust in God that in no distant future, the press will be invited to the first matriculation.”
The C&S leader also backed Operation Amotekun put together by the six South-West governors, saying it was a move in the right direction.
He said, “Of more concern is the unnecessary controversy that followed the establishment of the security outfit codenamed “Amotekun” put in place by all six governors in South-West states as chief security officers when it was apparent that the central government could not guarantee the security of the residents in their states.
“I want to believe that the reported declaration allegedly from the Attorney General of the federation that Amotekun is illegal is a misunderstanding. That would amount to usurpation of the exclusive function of the judiciary which our peace-loving and law-abiding President would not tolerate. I appeal that the central government should ensure the success of Amotekun and encourage other states to follow suit so that every day our C-In-C can sleep better with his two eyes closed. He should never be misled as it was the case of 1965 when the Wild Wild West was burning but the cabals were telling our leader that the west was calm.”
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