The President and Founder, Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association (UUEA), in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Rev. Uma Ukpai, has called on Christians and others to respect and pray for leaders in the positions of authority in the country, “to have skills, vision and mission” to enable them to serve and lead the people in the ways of the Lord.

The clergyman, who made the call while speaking to newsmen in Uyo on Monday, stated that Akwa Ibom State, and indeed Nigeria “needed leaders that are called, chosen and catapulted by God” and urged the people “to learn to respect the sacredness of life, reverence to God and love for one another.”

He enjoined Nigerians to play complementary roles to one another as God’s children, “rather than pulling one another down, instead help in actualising the God’s given potentials in each other.”

He stated that he wanted to put a stop to the level of poverty and ignorance that made him to establish a College of Technology “for the acquisition of knowledge.”

Rev. Uma Ukpai disclosed that the school had a dome that contains a capacity of 5,000 students, Engineering Department and laboratories, as well as e-library, adding that it would go a long way in making the students acquire knowledge which would help in reducing poverty’

He also recalled his dream of teaching people to make use of their hands in skills acquisition saying he is an enemy of poverty, ignorance and corruption.

“Akwa Ibom State, and indeed Nigeria as a nation is blessed with abundant mineral and natural resources which, if properly utilised, would go a long way in improving the economy.” He implored politicians to be willing to “serve their people with a mission and vision, and think of improving the economy for the good of the masses, instead of fighting themselves and fanning embers of violence,” he said.

The clergyman stressed the need for the federal government to institute a free and compulsory education in the country, at least up to secondary schools level, “as every Nigerian should equally be taught on how to generate wealth and have financial freedom.”

On the secret of his acclaimed success as a preacher of the gospel, Uma Ukpai hinted: “I have been able to show love to people and pay the price of success and have been exceptionally blessed by God who has endowed me with his grace to work in His vineyard.”

He added that a leader must be a merchant of knowledge and charged Nigerians to imbibe the law of followership to be successful in life.

Rev. Uma Ukpai, said that churches were not enough in the country, describing the church as a “river where any Pastor, Reverend Father, or leader that cheats, cannot go unpunished” stressing, “There must be accountability in the church, as God only blesses what He has approved.”

•Photo shows Uma Ukpai.