Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has stressed the need for the church to actively participate in politics to enable Christians effectively contribute their quota to national development.
Obaseki gave the charge when he addressed delegates at the fifth National Eucharistic Congress held at St. Paul Minor Seminary, Benin City, Edo State.
The congress was organised by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) with the theme, “Becoming the eucharist we celebrate: A call to live as one and serve the weak.”
Catholic delegates and faithful from Onitsha, Lagos, Owerri, Abuja, Ibadan, Jos, Kaduna and the host Benin Province attended the congress, which started on Friday and ended yesterday.
Obaseki said, “The church has continued to intervene when the government fails. The church goes into communities, acquires land, provides education, healthcare and spiritual healing for citizens. We need help in government and the Catholic Church should go beyond homily and help us on how to govern our country.”
The governor said Nigeria is going through a difficult time and needs prayers and collaboration of the church to overcome the challenges facing her.
“In our nation today, we need God as we all need prayers and to call on God to intervene as we are going through challenges and difficulties that we have not experienced in a long time. God wants us to take away lessons from these challenges that we are facing as a nation, which is why he has allowed us to pass through them.
“I have had the privilege of occupying many positions in this country, from business, government and politics. What is clear is that we can resolve the problems we have because God has given us all we need as a nation to solve them. I believe that the Catholic Church has a huge responsibility. In the world today, the Catholic Church is one of the most organised institutions,” Obaseki said.
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