Cleric Tasks Traditional Rulers on Unity

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The Vicar/Archdeacon of Saint John’s Anglican Church, Ijebu-Igbo, Reverend Lawrence Otegbola, has charged traditional rulers in Nigeria to champion the crusade for unity among Nigerians.

The cleric urged Nigerians to live in harmony with their neighbours irrespective of their tribes.

Otegbola made the call in his sermon during a Thanksgiving  service to mark the 32nd edition of the Owu National Convention held at Ijebu Igbo, headquarters of Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

In particular, he urged the Owu people to see their diversity as major advantage capable of transforming the economy of the people and ensuring peaceful co-existence with others.

Otegbola also wants eminent sons and daughters of Owu-Kingdom to champion the crusade for unity among the Owu people.

The vicar, reading from Psalm 133 in the Holy Bible, said those in position of authorities must use such key positions to support others and lift them up.

This is to reduce the alarming rate of poverty as well as insecurity in the country.

He said: “We should use our key positions to support people around us for the progress of society; we should strive to make others to grow, and reduce level of poverty in the land.

 “Your greatest achievements in life is raising people to become greater. Don’t allow anyone to discourage you from making people great.”

The Anglican Church priest also expressed concern over what he described as gradual extinction of the Yoruba Language, calling on sons and daughters of the tribe to save culture and traditions of the race from dying.

He lamented that the current generation of Yoruba children and youths no longer understand as well as speak the language.

To appreciate the beauty of rich tradition and cultural values of Yoruba, he stressed the need for parents to begin to encourage the speaking of the language in their various homes among their children.

According to him, speaking and understanding the language would preserve it and save it from going into extinction.

Otegbola said cultural celebration like Owu National Convention should always be used to project the rich moral values of Yoruba people.

 Also speaking as special host, Senator Lekan Mustapha said:  “All hands must be on deck to foster unity not only within Owu people, but among our neighbours in the spirit of the theme of this year’s convention ‘The Year of Consolidation’.”