Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has called on Christian leaders in Nigeria to encourage their members to contest political positions so as to produce suitable leaders.

Wike, who made the call on Wednesday, admonished the church to encourage its members to be part of the governance process, even as the 2023 general elections approaches.

This was contained in a statement issued by the media aide to the governor, Kelvin Ebiri, titled ‘Church of Nigeria honours Wike, Sanwo-Olu Akerelodu, others’.

According to the statement, Wike said a situation whereby Christians leave governance for politicians alone is no longer obtainable, adding that the effect of bad leadership would also affect the church if they remain in different to issues of governance.

“You must be part of choosing leadership. Don’t say you have no role, you have a role. When you don’t participate, bad leaders will emerge and when bad leadership emerges, you are part of it.

“You must encourage your people to be part of leadership. I didn’t go to any school to study leadership.

“So, nobody should say that as a Christian you cannot be a governor, no. The head of SUBEB in my state is a priest and you can see the leadership he has given to that agency today.

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“You will feel proud about it. That used to be the most corrupt agency, but today it is headed by a priest and you can see the difference,” the governor stated.

Wike decried the inherent injustice that has characterized the Nigerian State, and urged the church to speak against sociopolitical issues adversely affecting the progress of the country.

“We say we are all one Nigeria. We went to World Bank to borrow money to do specific projects. One of the states that make up Nigeria, I hear is Rivers State.

“I also know in paying this money back to World Bank, money that comes from the resources of my state will be used in paying back this money. But my state was denied to have projects from that loan,” he added.

Others who were also conferred the award include Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Ondo State counterpart, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State.