The Vicar in Charge of Anglican Church of the Ascension, Akobo, Ibadan, Venerable Dr. Tobi Adeyẹoluwa has stated that the nation needs total healing because the people are sick, struggling and wallowing in poverty.
He stressed that only Jesus can give true healing.
Speaking on the theme of the 2023 Jesus Festival of the Ibadan Anglican Diocese: “Season of Healing” Venerable Dr Adeyẹoluwa said that the programme this year is channeled to reach out to the spiritual, mental, psychological and physical challenges bedeviling people living in the Ibadan Metropolis.
Speaking further on the programme, Jesus Festival 2023, he said it would hold from October 21 to 29, 2023. He explained how each day’s activities is about how Jesus will bring healing to the people because there are more sick and depressed people and now you see a rise in suicidal cases across the land.
‘The level of compromise people go to survive is not different from those in the biblical days.” Crusades, ministers’ Conference, singspiration, welfare outreach, Jesus rally are some of the activities highlighted for that period.
He noted that the church was doing much in poverty alleviation, establishment of schools and vocational training centres adding that churches could participate in the infrastructural development of the society if the government would allow her.
He charged church leaders to speak the truth to the government about the situation of things in the country whenever they are opportune because they are the voice of the people. He added that compromise with the political elite will weaken her voice to the nation. He charged Clerics and Christians who were elected into Political offices to live as light and see their positions as privilege to transform lives of the people, through sustainable initiatives on health, education and security of the citizenry.
He stated that although the palliatives being offered by the government is a strategy by the government to ease the people, it’s distribution is not well coordinated as many less privileged people are still being denied access to the relief package. He encouraged government to also reduce the cost of governance.
The Veterinary Doctor turned Cleric, called on government to respect the rule of law and ensure there is justice for all Nigerians. By this, there will be no need for agitations from any part of the country. Agitations are the result of partiality and injustice in the polity.
The Church also dedicated a multi million Naira Hall and Suites in a ceremony where the Bishop of Ibadan Anglican Diocese, The Most Reverend Dr Joseph Akinfenwa performed the cutting of the tape for the use of the church and members of the public. Chairman Building Committee, Quantity Surveyor, Kolawole Fadayomi who gave a brief history of the project, lauded the contributions of church members through cash donations and expertise in the realisation of the edifice.
