A traditional ruler in Rivers State, His Royal Majesty, Eze(king) Felix Enene Otuwarikpo PhD, has appealed to clergies to carryout effective evangelism at the Palaces of Traditional Rulers in order to draw them closer to God, their creator.
The Eze Ukpata III, of Ukpata Kingdom, in Ahoada East Local Government Area of the State made the appeal while speaking as Royal Father of the day at the 60th birthday thanksgiving Service of Dr. Parry Saroh Benson and their 25th Marriage Anniversary Celebration at the ACGM Revival Movement Ministry in Port Harcourt recently.
He re-emphasized the need for men of God to sensitize the traditional rulers through the preaching of the immutable Word of God against harmful evil practices rather than following the traditional rulers to shrines for fetish chieftaincy installations, stating that there was something fundamentally wrong with such obnoxious behaviour.
Otuwarikpo who is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), observed that there is something happening in the traditional institution if checked by men of God through the instrument of Evangelism would lead to peaceful resolution of many community crises.
“If men of God were evangelizing regularly as they ought to, at the palaces of traditional rulers, they would not grab people’s land forcefully because of the fear of God”.
He urged clergies to speak the word of God to traditional rulers to bring about a peaceful society. “If we get it right at the traditional institution, the society would be a better place to live in”.
“We have lost our values as traditional rulers because the traditional institution is in disarray and that is responsible for the moral decadence being experienced in the society today.
“In the Northern part of Nigeria, every Emir is a good Muslim. Why are traditional rulers not good Christians here in the south? He questioned.
“We need to go back to God”.
Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Sir Ngo Martyns-Yellowe had commended Dr & Dr. (Mrs) Parry Benson on their love life and resilience to lead an exemplary Christian life by loving each other and living in peace with one another.
He urged Dr. Parry Benson to remain focused and firm even as he celebrates both his 60th birthday and their 25th marriage anniversary.
In his speech on the occasion, Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Rivers State Chapter, Rev. Francis Asuk thanked God for the life of Dr. Parry, his wife Julie and their family, on how God has lifted them with a testimony and urged them to be more determined in serving God.
He prayed for Parry who is also the Vice Chairman of the Institute in Rivers State that his life shall continue to blossom like a tree planted by the rivers of water which brings forth fruits in its season.
In his vote of thanks, Dr. Benson on behalf of his wife and family thanked all his friends and well wishers as well as the guests for their kind support and encouragements in making sure that the celebration of both his birthday thanksgiving service and their 25th Marriage Anniversary was a huge success stating that as long as life is lived at levels and arrived at in stages, he and his family will continue to serve God all the days of their lives and at every level and stage they find themselves.
