The General Overseer of Revival Assembly, Apostle Anselm Madubuiko has recalled how many of his Yoruba friends deserted him because he supported Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour party in the 2023 election in Nigeria.
Madubuko who clocked 66 on July 25 made the recall while taking a session at the 22nd anniversary of the Asuza programme in the church’s headquarters in Lagos on Friday, July 26.
He said, “Many of my Yoruba friends deserted me because I supported Peter Obi. But I was not bothered. We don’t have to be in the same party. But I don’t think it is right for us to separate based on tribe. I did not support Obi because he is Igbo. I supported Obi because I was convinced, he was the best candidate for the job.
“For me, it should not be about tribe. It should be about who is most qualified for the job. That was what informed my support for Peter Obi” he said.
Nigeria’s woes
The cleric lamented that Nigeria’s woes are a consequence of tribal politics noting that many Nigerians are too tribalistic and set in their minds.
“People don’t care for character. They don’t care for value. They are only interested in people of their tribe. That is why we are not making progress in Nigeria.”
Madubuko said he was taken aback when one of his daughters in the faith asked him to support President Bola Tinubu on the basis that he is a Yoruba man.
“I was taken aback because I did not expect her to bring in tribal consideration in a matter as sensitive as the president of this country. We can’t make any meaningful progress in this country until we value character above tribe. We should be looking for who can do the job and not people who belong to our tribe.” He counselled.
Hunger in the Land
He opined there is so much hunger in the land today because we value tribe above character. “We are crying so much today. There is hunger in the land. And we are just starting. We have not seen hunger. We can only pray it won’t get worse.”
Madubuko regretted that the church of God had also been infected with the tribal disease. “There are Christians, even pastors who are Yoruba who will not give their daughters in marriage to an Igbo man. Some landlords are pastors in the West here who will not allow an Igbo tenant in their house. This is not of God.” He lamented
He then prayed that his listeners would not base their relationship on tribal considerations.