Archbishop Osa-Oni Charges Political Candidates on Issue-Based Campaigns; OBE Reaffirms Commitment to Serve with God’s Grace
Archbishop John Osa-Oni has charged political candidates to run issue-based campaigns, remain accountable to the electorate, and render excellent service to the public in appreciation of the trust reposed in them as elected representatives.
Archbishop Osa-Oni gave the charge when Hon. Monsuru Oloyede Bello (OBE), the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency II, paid a courtesy visit to him.
The visit coincided with the monthly fellowship of the leadership and members of the International Ministers Fellowship (IMF) held at the Vineyard Christian Ministries, Ajao Estate, Isolo.
Speaking at the fellowship, Hon. Bello reaffirmed his commitment to serve the people of his constituency and Nigerians at large at the National Assembly with the fear of God and by His grace, when elected in the 2027 general election.
He promised to prioritize people-oriented projects, welfare, and infrastructural development of the constituency.
While thanking the leadership and members of the fellowship for the honour of receiving him, Hon. Bello assured the gathering of church leaders and heads of ministries from across Lagos State that he would not take the honour for granted.
Reflecting on his family background, OBE said his father was a Muslim, but his late mother, whose prayers remain impactful in his life, died and was buried as a staunch Christian.
Going down memory lane, he said: “I feel honoured being at this fellowship. My parents were Muslims, but my mother became a Christian at a crusade and lived the rest of her life as a Christian. I remember her always praying for me in Jesus’ name, and those prayers are manifesting in my life today.”
Tracing his Awori roots, OBE described himself as a bonafide son and product of Ejigbo, where he was born and raised. “I schooled in Ejigbo, married in Ejigbo, and still live in Ejigbo. I have more events and engagements in Ejigbo than anywhere else,” he stated.
Highlighting his leadership and political journey, OBE recalled that he was a councilor candidate in 1996 and later served as Chairman of Ejigbo LCDA from 2017 to 2026. He noted that his administration, by God’s grace, performed creditably, leaving behind an unprecedented legacy of projects, transformative initiatives, people-oriented welfare programmes, and improved security of lives and property.
“To the glory of God, I went into governance with a 48-point agenda, and by the end of my eight-year tenure, I delivered on all 48 promises,” he said.
He lamented that many roads in Ejigbo are beyond the capacity of a local government, as they are not classified as local government roads. “But we had to create alternatives and prioritize roads that would ease movement for indigenes and residents of Ejigbo LCDA, including addressing the over 35-year bottleneck of NNPC, Idimu, and Egbeda roads, which had hindered the LCDA’s progress and prosperity,” he explained.
“When I assumed office in 2017, the LCDA Secretariat was nothing to write home about. During my second term, I decided to build a befitting secretariat for the council, and today our council can compete favourably with any other local government in the state,” he added.
According to him, the success of his administration inspired calls for him to extend his service beyond Ejigbo. “With the inspiration from our successful service delivery, I started having pressure to move forward in my political journey and spread the same development to the already deteriorated Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency II.”
Shedding light on his presence at the fellowship, OBE said he believes in the efficacy of prayer and had come to solicit the prayers of church leaders, which he considers crucial not only for winning the election but also for sustaining him throughout his tenure in the lower chamber.
“I will need more fervent prayers from the faithful than before because the task ahead has transcended Ejigbo LCDA. We are now looking at a bigger responsibility covering larger areas like Isolo, Ilasamaja, Ajao Estate, and others.
“Your prayers are more important to me. Though I am a Muslim, but I know God is working in my life, and proud of how He is working in my life. I am not taking it for granted, regardless of my religious background. I appreciate and value prayers from both my Muslim and Christian communities,” he said.
Reaffirming his commitment to service, OBE said he was challenged by the earlier message by Archbishop John Osa-Oni and would put the lessons into practice. “I will not disappoint humanity and God Almighty,” he assured.
Earlier in his admonition, the Convener and Prelate of the International Ministers Fellowship (IMF), Archbishop John Osa-Oni, speaking on “The Demand for Excellence”, described excellence as a demand that produces vision, credibility, and lasting impact, rather than settling for mediocrity. “You can’t be a man of excellence and not be credible,” he stated.
Quoting Genesis 1:31, Archbishop Osa-Oni said God is an Excellence God and everything He does carries the mark of excellence. He noted that excellence does not mean having a lot of money, but rather it is demonstrating the spirit of excellence in all endeavours.
He further explained: “Even if you live in a one-room apartment partitioned with curtains, if there is no excellence there, even if you move into a mansion, there still won’t be excellence. If excellence is not in you, it cannot manifest around you.”
Citing scriptural and biblical examples, Archbishop Osa-Oni highlighted catalysts that trigger the spirit of excellence, noting that an excellent person creates a paradigm shift and thinks differently from an average person. He added that an excellent mindset seeks solutions to challenges rather than making excuses.
