The first and still presiding Bishop of the Diocese of Ekiti Oke, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), The Right Reverend Isaac Olatunde Olubowale, shepherds God's flock located within Ido/Osi Local Government Area; Moba Local Government Area; part of Oye Local Government Area and Ilijemeje Local Government Area all of Ekiti State.Preparatory to the Second Session of the Third Synod of the Diocese, he speaks with Sam Nwaoko on the event and sundry issues. Excerpts:How has it been sir as Bishop of Ekiti Oke Diocese'TO the glory of God, this is the eight year of the inauguration and existence of the Diocese and we've been moving as nature will demand under Divine order.One cannot think of being used to being a bishop because it's a daily learning.The experience of yesterday surely cannot be the experience of today. The encounter last year will not be the encounter of next year and what we have passed through today, tomorrow; only God knows what will obtain. So, it's been experiencing God and the people we live with.You've been having synods. What are we expecting this time round'This synod is the second session of the third synod. A synod is for three years.The theme for this year is:'Bridging the Generation Gap: Our Hope for Sustainability.' This theme, I'd say came by revelation and working under God to prepare for it, I discovered that it is a theme that touches on all fields, all walks of human endeavour. It's a common problem nationally, internationally, domestically, professionally, etc. This generation gap is a big problem and it is what we are contending with globally and otherwise.Who and who are joining you to address this big issue of generation gap'In our setting, the Bishop gives a charge. In the Bishop's charge, all these would be well addressed. But to those we have invited, we have invited as our guest preacher and Bible study leader, the Right Reverend Abiodun Olusegun Ogunyemi, the Bishop of Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, the hot spot of Boko Haram havoc in this nation. This year is a special year because the legal arm of our Diocese headed by the Lord Chancellor will lead a launching for specific projects. And in the wise, we have invited to give our eight-year Foundation Lecture, the His Royal Majesty, the Oluyin of Iyin, Oba (Justice) Ajakaye. He will address from the legal arm of the law vis a vis national development.Apart from prayers, in what ways do you support your brethren in the North and charge Nigerians to also do'The theme is to address that. When you think of Boko Haram, it's not just religious issue. It is a subtle way of protest. It is a social matter. It is economic matter. People are fed up with the order. It is political. It is another way of what we call 'revolution' only that those who seem to be championing this are those who have been deprived of so many things in life. They are not aware, they are not conscious of their rights and the way they know how to go about it, that is what they are doing. So, this topic is to open our minds to this: the church, the state, the governed and the leaders; young and old.When we consider the generation gap, it is quite difficult to define but it can be explained. It is the difference between generations: The attitude, the interest between people of different generations. You can say between parents and children, between young and old. Then when we say 'our hope for sustainability', we try to define the idea of sustainability as the capacity to endure. And for humans, sustainability is the long term maintenance of responsibility which has environmental, economic and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of stewardship. The responsible management of resources and its use. So, when you think about the Boko Haram and what we can do, it's really broad and from what we'll say to the synod, it's not question of carrying arms. It is not a question of 'policemen go and expose yourselves to be killed'. It is not question of bringing in more tanks in a state where we're really free and liberated. We have enough given by God to be used. These people are only asking for fair dealings.We have no other country to run to, it's just this Nigeria and they want to enjoy the benefits in this country. They see how people misuse wealth. They see how those we count on to make things better live better and make things worse. So, this is the concept behind the Boko Haram.So, it requires learning, it requires teaching and requires bringing about connection' There's a disconnect in our historical agenda. It is not a Nigerian factor. It is global, it is continental, it is racial and of course, if we are to think in terms of independence, what our leaders fought for in terms of making us independent is not what we are seeing now. And the whole fashion of slavery is coming in a new dimension. It is a question of those we consider to be of the first world and those of the third world in battle. And God has endowed this environment, our nation inclusive, the third world with resources.So, the synod would look at these in a broad perspective'Yes, it will. In Nigeria, I will say that it is now that we are getting to begin to look into problems. We are in the phase I call 'the diagnosis.' We are now trying to diagnose. In the medical way, when you diagnose, you say 'this hand when you raise it, how do you feel'' etc, then you try to find what may be the likely cause of the ailment. That is the process we are into now. We still have a long way to go. Blaming and castigating is not the answer and after going through the diagnosis then we will know where we are and move from there.To keep echoing that we are corrupt, we are this or that is no more story. We need to find the solution. We need to find what the causes are and what to do about them. This is the time for us to bridge the generation gap.This I presume should come from all the tiers of government in the country''Yes, it should involve all the tiers of government. Federal Government, state governments, local governments, traditional rulers, churches, homes and families everybody because we are all involved. In all these, you and I come from homes; we did not come from the blues. So, these are the things we need to address.So, there is hope'There is hope if we are willing to resolve this and in the idea of bridging the generation gap, we will refer to our history. When our government was taken over by the military, things were bastardised. But who are those back in the saddle now' It is still the same people. If we say we want to correct, it is still the same people who spoilt everything that we are bringing back, recycling. And we have a generation loaded with ideas that is not used. So, if we want this nation to fix up, we need a blending. We have all we need to fix it.When is this synod sir'It is on July 26 to 29, Thursday through Sunday.As for the advice on blending, can we say the same of governors and other political office holders'What I have in the charge for state governors and the present day politicians is that they have assumed the role of the Almighty; and that's just for a while.Everybody now thinks the solution is the politicians, no. They think once you gain political power that is it. No, it is not. The road through the secretariat of this Diocese is bad and it has been awarded for repairs not less than five times.So, it transcends beyond the politicians. By the time the family is fixed, the politicians will sit up. No one will be a politician who is not relevant to his community or family. This is what we are talking about.It is still the issue of the western powers making us their perpetual slaves.Where do the arms in all these conflicts come from' They take our resources and send us back the craps because when you look around you, all you see is tokunbo. What is the meaning of tokunbo, it is waste products. So these are the issues we really need to contend with'But what do you think about the attack being concentrated more on Churches'The attack on churches is to distract attention. There are certain people who receive aides and they just use that to divert attention so as to continue to get their thing. I say this because in many places, you have Muslims and Christians running stores side by side one other. You have a Muslim selling pepper and Christian selling tomato, do they fight in the market' You have Christian judges and Muslim judges sitting on a case, do they fight in the court' In the hospitals, you have Christian doctor, Muslim patient, don't they cooperate' These are just gimmicks. But gradually, when we diagnose, we'll know what is wrong.
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