Clamour for reduction of jumbo pay for public officials, a mirage – Bishop Okonkwo

Emmanuel Kehinde, ilorin
The Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo, has said that the clamour of Nigerians for reduction of the entitlements of elected public office holders, including President, Governors, Ministers and members of the National Assembly may not be realised.
He said many of the public office holders are more interested in the perquisites of their offices and would not succumb to public opinion for them to be reduced.
He spoke during the first edition for 2022 of TREM’s programme tagged: Breeding Leaders for Empowerment and National Transformation (BLENT) at TREM’s international headquarters, Anthony-Oke, Gbagada Expressway, Lagos.
Okonkwo said, “How much is the Academic Union of Universities (ASUU) asking for that they have shot down the schools and our children can not go to schools? Our school system is destroyed because we have bad people in those places. And a nation without education, a nation that is destroying the education in that land can not make any progress.”
The bishop reiterated that Christians are the light of the world.
Okonkwo said, “You think the social media will move them? You are telling them to reduce their salaries, how can they reduce their salaries when that is the reason they went there in the first instance? And you expect them to pass a law that will reduce their salaries? They can not pass a law that will reduce their salaries because that is the main attraction. They will even take more while they allow you to suffer.
“The church must come out. We are called the light of the world and the salt of the earth. And you put salt in a bottle? We are not the bottle. Come out of the bottle and be the salt in society. That is who we are. We are to make an impact.
“How many of you know that we are praying for the coming elections in Nigeria? How many of you know that we are trusting God for a change in Nigeria? But the question is how many of us are participating actively in the political process?
“Many of us do not understand how powerful government is. There are powerful forces on earth: God or the church. After that the Government. Government is powerful.n Government can kill you if they choose to kill you and there is nothing you can do about it. They can decide to throw you into jail, lock up the key and throw away the key and you will be there. Government is powerful. But we are burying our heads inside the church and we are praying. There is nothing wrong with praying. I believe God has answered our prayers. But the issue is that we have not actively been engaged.”
He added, “Decisions are taking behind the scene and they will throw up two candidates and you will say, ‘out of two evils, let us choose one.’ I do not want to choose any evil. I want a good one. But we choose out of the two evils they will throw up and you expect them to make decisions that will bless you. We are wasting our time. It does not work that way.
“Go to your wards and register. Be there when they will take decisions so we will be looking for who is right and who is wrong that will come because once they throw them up,
“If you say I will not vote, for people will still vote and they will win and they will go there and take decisions for you.”
“Many people who say they want to go into politics are actually looking for positions where they will carry sirens and not really to serve because if you really want to serve, why don’t you want to be a councilor. The grassroots, that is where the people are. Why do you not want to display what you can do as a councillor, chairman of a local government, and not I want to be a governor?
“You do not even have a political structure. You say you are praying to God. Is God the one who will come and organise it for you? It is the local government should do the road for you in your area and we leave those ones. We are looking at President. Go and get involved in your ward. Join the political parties and make your voice count. Do not be lost in the crowd. We need to be committed, otherwise, this country will not change.
He urged Christians to make a positive impact in whatever field of human endeavour they are engaged in.
The bishop further said, “Let us start from where you are in, in your little corner. Display integrity, there is nothing like if you can not beat them, join them. No! No! You do not join them, even at the risk of your life because your salvation is more important. Jesus said where your treasure is, that is where your heart is. What is the treasure/Jesus is our treasure and that is where my heart is. That is where I have been zeroing in on. I can not allow society to determine how I behave. I look at the Scripture. How will my Jesus behave? Some of us are here now when they talk about government we laugh. You nko? In your little corner.
“So let us start with our constituency. Your corner is your constituency. Make up your mind to be a man or a woman of integrity, excellence. When you do things, they are different. You have integrity and excellence. You are committed. Take a quality decision. Let it be part of your life because that is what Christianity is all about.”
A former National President of the Student Wing of Peoples Redemption Party, Rev Sam Kputu, said Christians should be game-changers in politics.
He spoke as a guest speaker, during the event.
He spoke on “Becoming a game-changers in Nigeria’s politics.”
Kputu who is also the International Director, Calvary Ministries said to be game-changers, christians must bust exhibit integrity, competence, and excellence.
He said, “We need to be game-changers. How do we become game-changers? How can we as Christians change the narrative and quit our Protestantism and stop being a Public Complaint Commission? We always say, ‘We do not want this, we do not want this? It is not important in politics who you do not want, it is important who you want. You do not win power by protesting. You win power by participating.
“To be a game-changer be an ICE. ICE stands for Integrity, Competence, Excellence. The world will always gravitate to where there is integrity. The world will always gravitate to where there is commitment and Excellence.
“The Bible said a diligent man will not sit with ordinary people. the world is not ruled by intelligent people, it is ruled by diligent people. Eccl 9:11, the strongest warrior does not win the battle. The fastest runner does not win a race, the educated are not always rich. The wise are not always successful. It is a matter of being at the right place at the right time. That is why the steps of the righteous must be ordered by the Lord.”
Kputu added, “Joseph and Daniel excelled in public service even in a hostile environment under a pagan king. The Bible credited them with the following: God’s abiding presence, the Lord was with Joseph. He prospered and succeeded. There was an excellent spirit in Daniel that nobody could compete. Integrity and competence: they can scrutinize Daniel. The only area that you find fault is his commitment to God.
“Is there any department of government where you do not have a Christian? Is there any bank where there are no Christian managers and Managing Directors? They are everywhere but they are not making an impact. Martin Luther once said, “If I am to do surgery, I will rather have a talking surgeon than a Christian butcher.’
“We should try to vote for the candidate who will do the best job running the country with policies we can support regardless of their personal piety.”