Nigerian leaders have been charged to seek the face of God while acquiring wealth, warning that possession of wealth without Jesus Christ is vanity.
The Chaplain, Chapel of The Annunciation Archbishop Vining College of Theology, Akure, Ven. Simeon Akponorie gave the admonition at the commendation service for late Deaconess Victoria Adelegan last Saturday in Akure.
He said, “There is nothing wrong if you are rich or wealthy provided you have not stolen public fund; wealth and possession without Jesus Christ is vanity. It is very disastrous for anyone to have everything in this world without Jesus.
“Your soul would leave everything when death comes, only Jesus can guarantee eternity. And that is why we gather here today to commend the soul of late Mrs. Adelegan into the hands of the Lord having served the Lord and humanity in her life time.
“She cannot amend her life again. She has no say about all her properties again but the next level for her is judgement. For us all, we still have time to go back to God. We have all the time to right our wrong with all sincerity. We have the time to pull off the garment of wickedness and put on the garment of love, unity and godliness.”
He said Nigeria as a nation needs love, unity and godliness to find her way back to God.
“Our nation has been battered. The government and the political leaders have failed the nation. Our system is characterised by corruption and maladministration. We are faced with economic and structural woes, socio-political ills, regional disunity, sharp sectionalism.
“Insecurity and insensitivity that have snowballed into incessant killing of bloody innocent, kidnapping of both the young and old, terrorism, banditry, political hooliganism, rape, impunity. We are in a country where there is no war or natural disasters, yet bury innocent people in large number everyday and our leaders are in mute sympathy.
“It is a pity that the church that is supposed to be the voice and conscience of the nation has lost her original focus and purpose for denominational politics and worldly Christianity.
“Let this commendation service be a turning point for everyone, both the leaders and the led. Let us all go back to God with sincerity of heart and honour the dignity sanctity and value of life. Let Jesus Christ and godliness be part of our possession.
“The eldest son of the deceased , Prince Adedapo Adelegan described his mother as a wonderful woman who served God and humanity diligently.
He said, “My mother treated me like her husband because I lost my father at age 11; she was a great woman, she played a tremendous role in what I become today. She was my friend, confidant, my first wife”.
“I will miss her prayers for me; she do write letters on my behalf to God. She was a pillar for all my successes. She built my confidence, responsibilities and propel my entrepreneurship. She is an exemplary mother.”
Guests at the ceremony included the immediate past Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Chairman Governing Council Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Chief Toye Olofintuyi, former Editor-in-Chief of News Agency of Nigeria and Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of The Hope Newspaper, Sir Ademola Adetula, among others.