Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has asked local Christian leaders to foster harmony and peace both inside the state and the body of Christ.
At a one-day prayer summit and dinner for Izon ministers across the state on Monday, Diri provided the advise.
More than 1,300 Christian leaders from various denominations attended the summit, which was the first of its kind.
For the benefit of everyone, the governor tasked them with spreading the brotherly spirit throughout Ijaw land.
Additionally, he urged the indigenous ministers to cooperate in harmony and peace for the benefit of Bayelsa State's stability and the Ijaw nation as a whole.
He said: “When I was the National Organizing Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), one thing I noticed whenever I travelled was that the Ijaw people lived in close settlements, and they were close-knit families across Ijaw land. But we are fast losing all of that.
“Unity is exemplified by the ants. When they come together, they become more productive. Let this continue to live in our hearts now that you have come together as one body.”
The governor also discussed the value of forgiveness, noting that it was one of Jesus Christ's central teachings.
The summit, in Diri's opinion, should be the tipping point for all Ijaw people to claim their rightful place in politics, religion, and all areas of life by displaying moral character deserving of imitation.
Rev. Tuesday Emmanuel of the Doxa Family Church urged Izon ministers in his sermon to work to uphold the bond of peace.
He mentioned that God had instructed his people to love one another and added that character was one of the fundamentals that drove togetherness.
The clergyman exhorted fellow gospel preachers to always spread the message of Christ rather than themselves.
The summit's organiser, Rev. Godspower Asingba, stated in his remarks that the summit's goal was to bring together state-wide Christian leaders in order to promote harmony and peace within the body of Christ.
According to Asingba, who is the Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Matters, the state's ministries have reportedly been working against each other for a long time and cooperation between them is essential for the state's prosperity.
Intercessory prayers were offered for the state, the governor and his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and the Ijaw nation at the event that had in attendance Apostle David Zilly Aggrey, Archbishop Willy Bunting, Rt. Rev. Funkuro Amgbare, Pastor Ken Bitere and other respected clerics.