Bayelsa State Government Hosts Christian Council of Nigeria, Pushes Agenda on Church’s Role in Society.
By Raymond Enoch
In a momentous and deeply reflective gathering at the Bayelsa State Government House, Governor Douye Diri and members of his administration yesterday welcomed the leadership of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) during a high-level courtesy visit that transcended ceremonial pleasantries and delved into the evolving responsibilities of the Church in a modern society.
The Christian Council of Nigeria, one of the country’s foremost Christian ecumenical bodies, was commended for its longstanding commitment to shaping Nigeria’s moral and policy landscape through spiritual guidance. The Council, in turn, lauded the Diri administration for its ongoing strides under the Assured Prosperity mandate—particularly its moral clarity and inclusive development initiatives.
However, the visit was not without introspection and candid conversation.
In a bold and thoughtful address, the Bayelsa State Government opened up critical reflections on the current state of the Church, sounding a call for spiritual recalibration and institutional integrity.
“It is the day your mother-in-law comes for prophecy that you call her by name,” an age-old proverb set the tone for the Governor’s remarks, signaling the seriousness of the issues discussed.
Governor Diri expressed concern over the rising commercialization within some religious spaces, particularly as it affects the poor and vulnerable. “The Church has always been a refuge for the less privileged,” he noted, “but we must ask—is it still so today?”
He called on Christian leaders to ensure that the act of giving remains voluntary and that churches remain sanctuaries, free of pressure or manipulation. “We must not take God to people for personal gain, but draw people to God through sincere teachings, humility, and Christ-like example,” the Governor asserted.
A major point of discussion was also the accessibility of educational institutions established by churches. The Governor emphasized that if these schools are indeed founded in Christ’s name, then their doors must be open—especially to the poor. “Education must not be priced beyond the reach of those the Church is called to uplift,” he warned.
The Governor’s remarks were received with visible humility and solemnity by the CCN delegation, who pledged to take the reflections to heart and use them as a springboard for renewed engagement within the body of Christ.
The meeting ended with mutual expressions of appreciation and a shared commitment to future collaboration for the spiritual, social, and moral advancement of Bayelsa State and Nigeria at large.
As the CCN continues its nationwide engagements, its Bayelsa visit will be remembered not only as a symbolic meeting between faith and governance but as a catalytic moment that may very well spark a wider conversation on the role of the Church in 21st-century Nigeria.
