By Olaitan Oye -Adeitan

The first month of the new year is going gradually. Within this short trip into the year, some people are already losing sight of their resolutions. But why is it difficult for people to keep to resolutions? A Baptist Clergyman, the Reverend Segun Lawoyin once shared valuable insights on why resolutions often fall short. He spoke on “Straight Talk”, a Radio Nigeria Programme that focuses on topical issues, with the host, Olutola Daramola. Reverend Lawoyin’s words remain relevant today, offering guidance on how to overcome the challenges that come with making New Year’s resolutions. He also touched on other issues affecting the nation.

Making New year resolution is a good thing because as human beings, there will always be room for improvement. After all, the largest room on earth is the room for change.

Therefore, having reflected over the previous year’s achievements, failures, experiences, coupled with different admonitions received while stepping into the new year, man is poised to make informed decisions and positive change for a better result as explained by a Baptist Clergyman during his lifetime,the Reverend Stephen Olusegun Lawoyin.

This principle is rooted in the scriptures, where God reminds us that “new wine can’t be put into old wineskins”, (Matthew 9:17). 

Yet, the real challenge lies not in the decision to change, but in the ability to stick to our commitments and see them through.

While featuring on, Straight Talk, a Radio Nigeria Ibadan programme Reverend Segun Lawoyin adduced such, to lack of proper thinking before decision making on the part of the people.

“At times people do not think well before they make resolutions because when a person makes a resolution that he cannot really keep to, that person will not fulfill whatever he wants to do. But when a person thinks hard and prays very well that God should help him with the the Holy Spirit on the resolutions he’s going to make, i.believe very strongly that person will keep to the resolution to the end” The Clergy said.

Reverend Lawoyin also pointed out that inconsistent government policies, coupled with the denial of workers’ benefits and entitlements, posed significant threats to individual’s well-laid plans and resolutions, particularly when it comes to their financial stability.

With a passionate concern for the nation, the clergyman emphasized that overcoming Nigeria’s challenges required a collective commitment to truth. 

He urged political leaders to stop fueling false hopes with empty promises and rather, fulfill their electioneering promises, thereby, restoring the trust of the people.

“These politicians don’t really have good vision for the nation. They don’t have good mind for the people they are leading. They only want the people to vote them into power. That is why they make those vague resolutions.“

“In order to avoid this, leaders must be resolute in fulfilling their electioneering promises”.

For the nation to witness positive change in the new year, Reverend Lawoyin said,  all manners of corrupt practices and immoral behaviour must not be treated lightly. 

“Look at how leaders are looting the nation’s treasury and a lot of ugly practices like a man of forty defiling a little child. Until there is a stringent measure, like capital punishment, most of us will not change in this country. This is why I’m appealing to the president, he must sit with his cabinet members and begin to impose severe penalties, including capital punishment, for these heinous crimes. When that happens, there will be change. It is like a rat eating something somewhere, when it is caught in trap, it will caution other rats from treading the same path”.

The clergyman emphasized the need for leaders to do away with propaganda and lead with sincerity of heart.

While reflecting on the proliferation of churches and breakdown of moral values in the society, Reverend Lawoyin said it was not sufficient alone to tell people not to do this or that, hammering that the example should start with the leader of the church, the clergyman himself.

“If the preacher preaches people refrain from drinking, smoking, sexual immorality and embezzling,he too should not be involved”.

Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches that we should be doers of the Word, and not hearers only. When the pastor lives by example, members will also follow.

“Such impression will engender positive changes in people”, he concluded.

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