The Bishop of Lafia Diocese (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Godwin Robinson, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to confront the underlying causes of insecurity, economic hardship, and other pressing national challenges in order to find lasting solutions.
Bishop Robinson made the appeal on Saturday while delivering the Bishop’s Charge at the 2nd Session of the 9th Synod of the Diocese, held in Lafia. The synod, themed “Keep the Flame Alive on the Altar,” drew participation from clergy and delegates across the Diocese.
According to Bishop Robinson, meaningful reforms must go beyond surface-level responses and tackle structural injustices that breed insecurity and underdevelopment.
“Structural reforms must address the root causes of injustice, insecurity, and underdevelopment,” he said.
He acknowledged President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda as a positive policy direction, but stressed that deliberate efforts must be made to ensure its benefits are felt by ordinary Nigerians.
“We urge the government to ensure that renewed hope becomes real hope—especially for the poor, displaced, unemployed, and marginalized,” he said. “At this critical time, we must act with courage, vision, and a renewed commitment to justice, equity, and righteousness.”
Drawing inspiration from Leviticus 6:13, Bishop Robinson charged Nigerians to rekindle their spiritual commitment by maintaining a strong relationship with God and passing that devotion to future generations.
“The fire on the altar, initiated by God, was to be sustained by the priests. This represents a divine-human partnership in worship,” he explained.
He encouraged clergy and synod delegates to emulate the Levitical priests who consistently kept the altar fire burning by clearing ashes, providing fresh wood, and offering daily sacrifices.
“These were not casual duties—they were spiritual obligations symbolizing dedication and faithfulness,” he noted. “One of the greatest failures in ministry is neglecting this sacred duty of passing faith from one generation to the next.”
Bishop Robinson stressed that true ministerial success lies in preparing the next generation to carry on with spiritual fervor.
“A priest who does not raise successors and hand over a burning altar has failed in his divine calling,” he said.
He also highlighted the altar as a spiritual meeting point between God and man—where transformation, training, and commissioning take place.
Encouraging believers to build and maintain personal altars, he said, “You won’t have a personal altar unless you intentionally build one. Choose today to either establish a new altar or restore one that has been neglected.”
He concluded with a charge to all Christians: “The fire on God’s altar must never be extinguished—not in our churches, not in our homes, not in our hearts, and certainly not in our nation. We all share the sacred duty of tending this flame.”
The synod brought together clerics and lay delegates from across the Diocese of Lafia.
