By – Memoye Oghu (Port Harcourt)
His Royal Majesty, Eze Felix Otuwarikpo, the Eze Igbu Upata 111 of Upata kingdom in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State has advised Clergymen to stop demonizing traditional rulers but to work harmoniously with them in order to move our communities forward.
The royal father gave the advice on Saturday at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State during a parley with Pastor W. F. Kumuyi, the General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry.
In an interview with newsmen shortly after the event, King Otuwarikpo said, “God didn’t design religion for the purpose of heaven and hell. . . But religion was carved out, conceived and given to man as a way of life. If you see religion as a way of life, you’ll be a better Christian. But if you see religion from the point of going to heaven alone, you’ll deviate because nothing you’ll do here that’ll not count for you in heaven.
“And to that extent, whether traditional rulers, ordinary people and whatever, should believe in God. If you believe in God as a traditional ruler, you’ll give quality services to your people because the Bible says do unto others as you want others to do unto you and love your neighbour as yourself. These two doctrines alone are enough for any traditional ruler to provide quality services to his people. . .
“The Pastors and traditional rulers must work together. God recognises the anointed and the prophets. We traditional rulers are the anointed, they’re the prophets. No one should work in isolation. And so, the Pastors should stop demonizing the traditional rulers. When they work together our society will be a better place.”
Earlier in his response on behalf of the state chairman of Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, Eze Chike Amadi Worlu Wodo, King Otuwarikpo said, “this message you’ve given to us, the entire members of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council commits to taking this message to our people.
“From what you told us at the stadium and what you’ve told us here, you’ve not condemned anything that is happening at the community level and this is the kind of interactions we want with religious leaders. The change being proposed and driven by our father in the Lord will be internalised and it’ll work better if the church and traditional institutions work together for the good of our people.”
The General Superintendent, Pastor (Dr) W. F. Kumuyi had, as part of his activities while in the state launched his vision of ‘Change Makers International (GMI)’ and requested a meeting with the state traditional rulers.
At the parley, he admonished the royal fathers to fight the Goliaths of greed, injustice, cultism, lawlessness, corruption etc in their domains. “I pray that God will give you the vision, wisdom and the determination that these Goliaths working down our nation, worrying our communities must come down in our time in Jesus Mighty Name.”