The regional superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Medaiyese region, Gabriel Aboderin, has called on Nigerians to move beyond mere expectations and actively participate in the nation’s development.

Mr Aboderin said this in an interview at the regional headquarters, CAC Durumi, Abuja.

He cautioned Nigerians against sitting idly in a “waiting room” of irresponsibility for the country to fix itself.

According to him, active participation rather than passive expectation is what will drive the nation’s progress.

“We are not supposed to live the rest of our lives in the waiting room. Everybody must see himself as part of the team that should be involved in the building of this nation.

“One thing with us is that we continue to expect without participating in the change. A nation that will grow doesn’t wait for change to happen; it makes it happen,” he said.

Mr Aboderin said current national adjustments, such as those made through tax reforms, face contradictions between public demands and public compliance.

He lamented that while everyone desired constant electricity, some citizens still bypass meters, a mindset he categorised as a form of internal criminality that hinders national progress.

“If we see ourselves as part of the system that must change, within no time, we are going to experience the transformation we desire,” the cleric said. 

Mr Aboderin called for a “mind renewal” among citizens, noting that true change begins with a personal change in direction.

Citing biblical admonitions, Mr Aboderin referenced Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, Chapter 12, emphasising the need for continuous renewal of the mind.

“If a new thing is going to happen to any person, it begins with our hearts.

“As a nation, if a new thing is going to happen, it begins with the way our mind functions. Enlargement doesn’t just come automatically; people need to prepare,” Mr Aboderin said.

He explained that when God was preparing the people of Israel for liberty, He instructed them to enlarge their tents and strengthen their stakes to accommodate their upcoming expansion.

He added that to experience progress, citizens must undergo rigorous personal development, which involves acquiring relevant skills and discarding outdated, counterproductive habits.

“Believers who are not constantly building capacity will fail to progress in life; change is a constant thing in our world.

“If we don’t build capacity to learn skills helpful to our destiny fulfilment, we cannot accommodate the new things God is preparing for us,” he said.

The cleric defined folly as “doing the same thing the same way and expecting a new result”, urging citizens to unlearn habits that do not lend themselves to national development.

Mr Aboderin urged patience and an understanding of the principle of timing as the nation moves through the second half of 2026.

He reminded believers of Prophet Habakkuk, whose divine vision was time-sensitive, advising citizens to keep their hope alive while working hard.

“There are things we are planting today that will germinate even when we are no longer around. We may plant a tree today, but we are not going to sit under its shade.

“God has given us a sanctified brain and a healthy body. We must partner with Him and involve ourselves in every programme that expands our lives and our nation,” Mr Aboderin said. 

(NAN)