Legislators seek God’s blessings to live up to peoples’ expectations
Chizokho Vero
Kohima | April 7
Naga legislators today came together in unison with their families under the banner “Sacrifice thanksgiving to God.’’ The Thanksgiving Sunday service for legislators organized by the Nagaland Legislators’ Christian Fellowship, focused on seeking God’s blessings and guidance in serving the people and to perform according to their expectations.
The Nagaland State chaplain K. Luruo and Rev. Dr. Wati Aier (Speaker of the service) led the congregation in prayer for God’s guidance, direction and grace and to enable the elected members to make responsible decisions for the betterment and advancement of the Naga society.
Exhorting the gathering, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio asserted that as a Christian state, we need to uphold Christian values and expressed his opinion that the government should work with churches and civil societies to reform Naga society.
He emphasized that the government appreciates and endorses the initiative taken by Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) for a Clean Election Campaign. Stating that it was a good beginning, he said that the seeds had been sowed and the people will move towards that goal. Terming the Clean Election Campaign as a right step towards the right direction, Rio strongly asserted that it needs to involve all sections of the people.
Pleased with the state’s literacy rate at 80%, Rio said that while “we are educated, our society is still young and yet to be civilized.” In this, Rio urged upon the legislators to work together. “We have to take the initiative and lead,” he said while encouraging them to serve the people with commitment. He acknowledged that it was “By the grace of God that we are here for the third time with people reposing faith in us and we pray that we don’t betray their trust and confidence.” “We are not masters of the people but we are servants of the people,” Rio stated.
Sharing his message to the gathering, Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, Principal of the Oriental Theological Seminary, who is also Convenor of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, thanked the Chief Minister and the DAN government for supporting the Naga reconciliation process for the last 4 years. “We have come a long way and we are on the right track,” Dr. Aier, and further added, “we are cautiously optimistic that something new is going to happen”.
Pointing out the need as leaders not to think for themselves alone, but to fulfill the public trust placed upon them, Dr. Aier stated, “You should be resolve to forego individual interest for the people’s interest and try to be like the Fig tree in carrying forward the aspiration of the people.” He further clarified that politics is not dirty, rather, a holy calling and therefore encouraged the legislators to be fruitful. He urged the 60 legislators to come together for the betterment of the Naga people.
