African Leaders Should Emulate Pope Benedict Xvi – Gov. Akpabio

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wpid-His-Excellency-Governor-Godswill-Obot-Akpabio.jpgGovernor Godswill Akpabio has bemoaned sit-tight syndrome among some African leaders and has therefore enjoined them to emulate Pope Benedict XVI who resigned from office by not hanging onto political power.

Akpabio, while fielding questions from Government House correspondents in Uyo, said ”The Pope?s resignation is where we should learn a lesson particularly leaders should not be hungry so much for positions on earth. We should rather be hungry for closeness to God and for position in Heaven”.

The Governor noted ”Of course, you know, the greatest problem of?Africa?used to be this sit-tight syndrome of our leaders. The Pope that resigned has also shown that yes indeed there is no need to hang onto power. That all these things in the world are ephemeral. What is important is eternity and eternity means your soul. That the first lesson I learn from there”

”The Pope has shown that spirituality has nothing to do with position. He there that things of the world are necessary things of the Spirit; he has shown there that the worldly throng, being a Head of State or Head of Government has no meaning that what is more important is your relationship with God?, he said.

The Governor, who was a member of the Federal Government delegation that attended the inauguration of Pope Francis I at St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City Tuesday last week,? said ”Emergency of the Pope shows that Christianity is for all. It also shows that leadership in the Church is for all.

”It also shows that one of this days, may in our life time we may end up having a black Pope from the Vatican and that is a great message that yes indeed the message of Jesus Christ as exemplified by the Catholic Church is for all mankind and not restricted to any particular continent?.

Akpabio said the lesson to all should not be only the emergence of non?Eurpean Pope, rather much should be learnt about the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. It is not so much where the Pope comes from; I think the message should be the simplicity of the Church. The message should actually come from the nature of transition”.

According to him, ”The emergence of Pope Francis I as the first non-European Pope in the Vatican shows that message of Jesus Christ as exemplified by Catholic Church is for all mankind and not the exclusive of any particular continent. Clearly speaking, the Church has proved the fact that yes indeed it is being guided by the Spirit.

”Take, for instance, the resignation or the stepping aside of Pope Benedict XVI. He was not resigning because he did not love the church. He just felt that his health may not carry the heavy responsibility of caring for 1.2 billion people?, the Governor stated.

Source:?Event Media

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