The General Overseer of Holy Trinity Authority Prophetic Church, Ado-Ekiti, Prophet James Omitade, has urged Nigerians, particularly political leaders and public office holders, to uphold truth, shun corruption and protect public institutions against manipulation for personal gain.
Omitade gave the advice while speaking with journalists after a church service in Ado-Ekiti, describing his message as an end-of-year admonition on the dangers of compromising truth, undermining established principles and weakening public institutions.
He warned that those who manipulated systems of governance, justice and other public institutions to accumulate wealth or secure political advantages would eventually face the consequences of their actions, which could extend to future generations.
The cleric said people who compromised truth and justice to accumulate wealth, gain political advantage or secure a comfortable future for their children were unknowingly creating problems that would eventually affect them and generations after them.
He cautioned religious leaders against telling people what they wanted to hear simply to win their approval, urging them to uphold truth and remain committed to the principles of their calling.
Omitade warned that wealth accumulated through corruption, injustice and the manipulation of established systems could eventually become a source of shame to the children and grandchildren of those responsible.
He said future generations might remember their ancestors not for their achievements or accumulated wealth but for the corrupt practices through which they acquired their fortunes.
The prophet cited the biblical account of King Solomon, who, despite his enormous wealth and achievements, reflected on the uncertainty surrounding the person who would inherit his possessions.
He said Solomon’s experience offered a lesson to those accumulating wealth at the expense of truth and justice, noting that nobody could guarantee that their successors would be wise enough to preserve what they had built.
He urged Nigerians to appreciate whatever they had and avoid destroying others or undermining established systems in the pursuit of personal prosperity.
The cleric also warned political leaders and public office holders against manipulating laws, weakening institutions and distorting political processes to advance their personal interests.
He questioned situations where public officials became wealthier than the institutions they were appointed to manage, saying such practices undermined the systems upon which society depended.
Omitade stressed the need for governments and individuals to support functional public institutions, particularly in healthcare, education and other essential sectors.
He warned that wealthy individuals who neglected public healthcare systems might eventually find themselves depending on institutions that had been weakened through years of neglect and mismanagement.
Omitade called on Nigerians, Africans and the international community to uphold truth, protect institutions and desist from building personal empires at the expense of others, warning that the consequences of wrongdoing would eventually catch up with those responsible.