By Daniel Abia, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said Nigeria needs God-fearing leaders to move in the right direction and achieve meaningful development.
Fubara stated this on Thursday while receiving the World President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler, his wife, Andriene Marques Kohler, their daughter, Mariana Marques Kohler, and other church leaders at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
The governor commended the Seventh-day Adventist Church for its contributions to education and leadership development, noting that the church has continued to invest in education at different levels and currently operates two universities in Nigeria.
He praised the church for using its educational institutions not only to spread the Christian faith but also to nurture future leaders.
According to Fubara, religion should go beyond defending faith and focus on making a positive impact on society.
He said the church’s investment in education demonstrates its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s quest to produce educated and God-fearing leaders.
“Our country is where it is today because we lack the fear of God. If you have the fear of God, there should be a limit to what you can do because you understand the supremacy of God.
“But when God is not in your equation, you’ll go beyond the line, and that is what has brought us to where we are today.
“So, I feel very happy that you are contributing to the development of our future leaders in this country. We need the right people in the right place, prepared properly with good minds. That is what we need, not just in Nigeria but around the whole world,” he said.
Fubara added that the absence of God-fearing individuals in positions of authority has contributed to social inequality, poverty, corruption and criminality.
He stressed the need for a system where parents can afford quality education for their children and where graduates are equipped to compete globally.
“If we have a situation where the little money you’re paid as wages can also afford you quality healthcare and after working for at least 15 to 20 years you have a roof over your head, tell me why you should be involved in any kind of crime? At that point, you’ll feel secure, and this attitude of insecurity about the future that leads to many of the social vices we have today won’t be there,” he said.
The governor thanked the delegation for visiting Rivers State and for their prayers, assuring them of his continued support for the church’s programmes in the state.
Speaking earlier, the World President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler, said he was in Nigeria to attend a special church conference during which thousands of ministers would undergo an empowerment programme aimed at strengthening their capacity to serve their congregations and society.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the warm reception accorded the delegation, describing the visit as memorable.
Kohler disclosed that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has more than 24 million members and over 182,000 places of worship across 212 countries worldwide.
