Abuja — Arrogant people and evil-doers have no business in politics and they should be kicked out from participating in governance, Most Rev. John Onaiyekan, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, has said.

Onaiyekan said this yesterday at the closing Mass of the 5th Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria, CCRN, Abuja Archdiocesan Conference, with the theme, “You are the Vessel of Honour”.

The closing of the three-day conference also ends the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Service, ICCRS, leadership training course, hosted by Abuja Archdiocesan Service Team, ADST.

The Archbishop urged Christians to be involved in politics, saying God is looking for people that would dispense justice and fairness in Nigeria and the world at large.

“Don’t be afraid, God will not send you to where His hand will not reach but He might send you to where you don’t want to go.

“Christians say politics is a dirty game, wicked people should go there. It is a diabolical record because politics means proper management of God’s children and it belongs to God as well as management of His children.

“And only those who fear His name and desire to serve Him should dare to go near it,” he said.

Quoting from Prophet Malachi, chapter three verses 19-20, Onaiyekan said the day would come when the arrogant and the evil doers would be like stubble.

He said righteousness would shine out with healing in its rays, praying that God would raise virtuous men and women who fear God to go into politics and change it from dirty game to God’s rule.

The Archbishop urged charismatic members to be humble, sincere and obey the authority of the church, saying, “your endurance shall save your lives.”

In her address, Ms Michelle Moran, President, International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (ICCRS) from Rome, urged charismatic members to grow from baby Christians to mature Christians.

Moran also enjoined them to persevere in their race as Christians and have faith beyond sight as well as obey the authority of the Church.

“Charismatic renewal is more than 40 years, so we should stop childish things and move with expectant faith.  That is what God wants from us, to have faith like Peter,” she said.

The President tasked members to be prepared to work for God, and be ready to deepen their faith and grow in the maturity of the Lord.

Mr James Murphy, Director, Leadership Formation for ICCRS, who is based in the U.S., said the team was in Nigeria as instructed by the then Pope John Paul II to develop leaders all over the world.

Murphy called on members to show care and love to one another, saying: “There is a journey we must make together and we cannot be successful if we don’t show love and care to one another.”

He said members could achieve that by praying, giving word of hope, encouraging and being sensible to the needs of their brethren.

Also speaking, Dr Issac Ukpokolo , Chairman, National Service Team, urged members to be humble, prayerful and obey the authority of the church as well as persevere  in their race as  Christians.

According to him, the beginning of being a vessel of honour is to be humble.

“It is when you are humble that you can win the hearts of unbelievers,” he said.
Thousands of worshippers attended the 5th Abuja Archdiocesan Conference at Papal Ground, Kubwa, while more than 200 charismatic leaders across the country and Togo participated in the training course.