An Ekiti-based cleric, Prophet James Omitade, has warned politicians and public office holders against manipulating laws, political processes and public institutions for personal gain, urging them to prioritise justice, integrity and the welfare of the people.

Omitade, the General Overseer of Holy Trinity Authority Prophetic Church, Ado-Ekiti, gave the warning while speaking with journalists after a church service in Ado-Ekiti, describing his message as an end-of-year admonition on the dangers of compromising truth and undermining established principles.

He cautioned political leaders against exploiting their positions to manipulate the laws of the land, weaken public institutions or distort governance structures to accumulate wealth and secure political advantages.

The cleric warned that those who compromised justice and abused public trust for personal prosperity were unknowingly creating problems that could affect not only themselves but also their children and future generations.

According to him, wealth acquired through corruption, injustice and the manipulation of established systems could eventually become a source of shame for the families of those responsible.

He noted that future generations might remember their ancestors not for their achievements or material possessions but for the questionable practices through which they accumulated their wealth.

Citing the biblical account of King Solomon, Omitade said the monarch’s reflections on the uncertainty surrounding the person who would inherit his enormous wealth offered a lesson to those who sacrificed truth and justice in the pursuit of prosperity.

He said nobody could guarantee that their successors would be wise enough to preserve wealth accumulated through questionable means.

The prophet also cautioned religious leaders against compromising their calling by telling people what they wanted to hear merely to gain approval, urging them to remain steadfast in preaching truth and defending justice.

Omitade further expressed concern over situations where public officials became wealthier than the institutions they were appointed to manage, describing such developments as harmful to the survival and effectiveness of public institutions.

He called on governments and individuals to support functional public institutions, particularly in healthcare, education and other essential sectors, stressing that the continued weakening of such systems could eventually affect even the wealthy.

The cleric warned that individuals who neglected public healthcare and other essential services might eventually find themselves depending on institutions they had contributed to weakening through neglect, corruption and mismanagement.

He urged politicians, public office holders and Nigerians in general to appreciate their positions and privileges without destroying established institutions or undermining others in the pursuit of personal prosperity.

Omitade called on Nigerians, Africans and the international community to uphold truth, defend justice and protect public institutions, warning that the consequences of manipulating laws and compromising established principles for personal gain would eventually catch up with those responsible.