Erstwhile governor of Cross Rivers State, Sen. Liyel Imoke has called for model leadership from the church which he said will in turn have huge impacts in the polity.
He said shortage of good leadership was responsible for the dearth of many things which are beneficial and which includes education and healthcare, adding that good leadership is a rare quality and a global challenge that has affected all.
Imoke who made the call on Tuesday in Goshen, Nassarawa state, during the public lecture in honour of Bishop David Abioye in commemoration of his sixtieth birthday, said the country might have been better if only leaders came from the church as a result of the teachings given and the mandate which is a call to serve.
With the theme of the lecture titled “Building Leadership That Lasts: Biblical Pattern”, Imoke who said a leader needs a mentor and what the nation needs is a leader with the fear of God, added that knowledge is a component needed by a leader who is ready to put in what it takes.
According to him: “Our country might have been better if leaders came from the church. Good leadership these days is becoming rare. It’s not available and not so common. Shortage of good leadership will lead to shortage of many things including education and healthcare.
“We are faced with a global challenge of good leadership. Our carnal world says politics provides leaders and we have to participate. Knowledge is a very important component for a leader. In our country today, do we have knowledgeable leaders? People who are willing to put in what it takes? A good leader is patient.
“Leadership is different from purpose. That you hold an office as governor or a special assistant does not automatically confer leadership in you. Leadership is not given by office. We are now defining leaders by the office they occupy, rather than the qualities they possess. A leader needs a mentor and what we need is a nation in the fear of God. When that is lacking, there is no hope.”
In the same vein, one time presidential aspirant, and speaker during the lecture, Dr. John Dara said churches should see it as necessity in creating departments that will be in charge of grooming people for leadership positions and by extension, the polity, reiterating that the church cannot grow until quality leadership is made and given.
While naming loyalty as a leadership quality that has since been lost, he cautioned against subordinates who are in the habit of upstaging their bosses.
He said: “Church is in the best position to provide model leadership, not just in the church but in the polity. There’s the need to groom leaders as even the church cannot grow until quality leadership is made and given.
“We see deputy governors and other subordinates trying to upstage their bosses due to absence of loyalty which should be one of the key factors of being a good leader.
“Living Faith as an institution and not just a church should have a department for grooming quality leadership which should be one of the legacies you should leave behind.”
The lecture was delivered by the presiding pastor of Salvation Ministries, David Ibiyeomie and in attendance was Throne Room Ministries, Dr. Emmanuel Kure, former presidential aspirant, Mr. Fela Durotoye, undersheperd of United Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Israel Akanji, and a host of others.
