The Seventh Day Adventist Church has appealed to the Independent National
Electoral Commission to discontinue the conduct of elections on Saturday.
The President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church , Western Nigeria
Union, Pastor Oyeleke Owolabi, said that the conduct of elections on Saturdays had deprived many of the church members the opportunity of participating in electoral process.
Speaking with newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday during a press conference to mark the commencement of its five-day 2016 Conference in Ekiti State, Owolabi lamented that because of the church’s doctrine of observing its services on Saturday’s, its members were being completely shut out from participating in elections.
He said,“We are not feeling comfortable because we are being disenfranchised .
We have written many letters to INEC on the need to shift elections
from Saturday and I know that it will accede to the request one day.
“We have seen a situation whereby a gubernatorial election was
conducted in the country on Tuesday and I think the country recorded
the highest turnout in history. So, we are begging INEC because the church recognises Saturday as its Sabbath day. We are not comfortable because we have the interest of our people at heart”.
The church also said Nigerians should not to be disillusioned by the
shame the controversy being generated by the issue of alleged padding of the 2016 budget has brought upon the country.
“We know we are facing so many challenges, but I am optimistic that
there is a great future awaiting this country. The government must engage every institution to fight the scourge.
The family that raises the child must be involved, because how can a
child carried in corrupt womb and raised in a corrupt family grows up
to be a good child? So , family values must change for Nigeria to make
a headway in this regard.
“Then, the educational institutions, community , religious and other
institutions must be involved. It has to be holistic approach, but relying on religious institution alone may not be proper”, he said.
Owolabi assured that the Church will not desist from supporting whoever is the leader of the nation, despite the fact that its members were being fenced out because of their religious belief
Owolabi also noted efforts by men of God in waging spiritual war against the scourge of corruption, adding that the government must find a lasting solution to the problem.
He also kicked against calls for the taxing of religious organisations, “As far as Adventist Church is concerned, we are not established for money- making. Some of the educational and health institutions attest to the fact that we are out to give joy to the people and contribute to the development of any community we find ourselves and these we have been doing.
“Government must not see churches and mosques as money-making
ventures. Let them examine the churches and mosques very well and know those that are established for profit.
“Churches should not be places
where you display opulence, but places for purification, transparency and accountability . They should help in waging war against corruption,” he added.
