Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has lauded the governance and leadership style of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi, describing him as a man of faith.

Speaking when he visited Bello on Saturday in Lokoja, Mr Adeboye also commended the governor for his religious tolerance.

The cleric said that the show of faith by Mr Bello in handling the Coronavirus pandemic was a rare demonstration from a political leader.

“We have heard and seen your show of faith in God, particularly in dealing with the Coronavirus. It takes the man of faith to have acted the way you did and we are very, very pleased with you.

“We have also heard the news of how you have been relating to people of every faith to the extent that you built the first chapel in the Government House, Lokoja, we are delighted, sir.

“I want to assure you that we will keep on praying for you, we will keep on praying for the people of your state and I believe that the Almighty God will answer our prayers for you,” Mr Adeboye said.

In the heat of the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria, the Kogi governor vehemently denied the existence of the contagion, without evidence, while also controverting vaccines development efforts. 

Mr Bello also refused to allow for COVID-19 testing in the state’s health facilities and vowed not to partake in the vaccination. He later soft-pedaled to allow mass inoculation in the state.

In his response to the pastor, Mr Bello the visit of Mr Adeboye was a gift and he was delighted to be hosting a father figure who served as a role model to many across the country, himself inclusive.

Mr Bello asserted that it was evil for any leader to continually do wrong without recourse to natural justice.

He alluded that his administration’s strive to ensure ethnic, religious balance, fighting criminality and other modest achievements were only natural and mandatory obligations expected of leaders bequeathed with the people’s mandate.

Mr Bello urged Adeboye to continue to pray for the country, the state, both leadership and followership.

(NAN)