The National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria; Archbishop Francis Wale Oke has congratulated all Nigerians on the occasion of its 66th Independence Day celebration, while urging all Nigerians to take time to reflect deeply and honestly on the state of the Nation. This was contained in a Press Statement issued by the Media Bureau of the PFN. Below is the text:
Fellow Nigerians,
Happy Independence Day. To God’s glory, we mark another year as a people, standing at the crossroad of history. This is a day to rejoice and be glad, to lift our voices in thanksgiving for all that God has helped us to achieve and will still help us to achieve, as a nation of many tribes, many tongues, many cultures, united under one flag. It’s a time to celebrate but it is also a time for deep and honest reflection.
For 66 years, we have seen much and achieved much, the progress we have made cannot be denied, but the challenges before us cannot be ignored.
The peace and security of our nation are vital, for without them, there cannot be any tangible progress. Without doubt we need a framework that protects every life in this country—whether in our bustling cities or in the quiet villages, in the North or South, East or West.
We must remove the bandits and terrorists from our forests and bring them and their financiers to justice. The federal government must do more and do it now. The blood of our citizens cries out from the ground, and we cannot remain silent.
The worsening economic situation of Nigeria remains deeply worrisome. We do not need reports or indices to tell us this. It is a stark reality staring us in the face; hence the Federal and State Governments should address it more. Nigeria is endowed with resources both human and natural which should be used to improve upon the welfare of the generality of the people and not a few elites. It is a burden on our people, and it must be dealt with urgently and with compassion.
Existing laws should be reviewed, and new laws should be crafted to make businesses thrive and make an average Nigerian prosper. Industrialization of the nation should be vigorously pursued for massive economic, technological and social changes to enhance our productive capacity and improve our standard of living.
Corruption is an anathema to democracy, for it undermines the principles of accountability, transparency, and the rule of law upon which democratic governance rests. It is a hydra-headed monster which has torn the soul of our nation apart. It has stalled our growth, drained our public resources, deepened inequality, harmed public trust, limited the youth potential and undermined justice. Governments at all tiers- whether national, state or local needs to try harder and tackle it headlong and wipe it out so that every Nigerian will enjoy the dividends of democracy.
It is also deeply heart breaking to note the rise of illicit drugs being produced and transported through our country. Most troubling is the danger this poses to our younger generation, the very future of our nation. Much has been done, but we must strive harder to remove this evil from our land. We must protect our children, for they are a gift from God, and their destruction is an affront to our future.
We also appeal to all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion or class. Let us come together at this critical juncture and commit ourselves to building a nation where there will be peace, oneness and love, a nation where justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. Let us stand together, with God as our foundation, to create a Nigeria that will glorify God, that will fulfill the promise of its founding fathers and will become our pride.
We assure you that the Almighty God is with us, but all of us as Nigerians must rededicate ourselves to Him and to the ideals of our nation. Nigeria can be great again, but we must all play our parts. Nigeria belong to all of us and its progress is dependent on all of us. Let us therefore be determined to think, to speak and do only that which will move Nigeria forward and give it accelerated progress.
God bless you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Archbishop Francis Wale Oke,
National President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).
