Anglican Primate Raises Alarm over Nigeria’s Worsening Security, Economic Crisis

By Praise Chinecherem

The Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, His Grace, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba has decried growing insecurity, poverty and other uncertainties confronting Nigeria and its citizenry.

He said majority of Nigerians were already sliding into dispondency, urging them not to give up. 

Ndukuba spoke on Sunday at St. Faith Cathedral Church, Awka, Anambra State at the thanksgiving service to mark the 60th birthday celebration of Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Grace, Most Revd Alexander Ibezim.

He however dismissed apprehensions that the insecurity situation may consume the country, expressing confidence that Nigeria would overcome.

He said, “Nigeria is at crossroads. Our children are at home for months now. People are sliding into dispondency. Nobody knows what will happen the next moment. 

“Even those of us in Abuja are afraid. They keep telling us stories of those inside the bush, only to create fear which is the instrument of the enemy. That’s why we must trust God and not fear.

“The failure of Nigeria is not the failure of God. Those expressing fear the nation’s current situation will consume the country are only leaving in fear as God’s hands is upon the country.”

The Primate stressed the need for Christians to back their prayers with actions ahead of the 2023 general elections by ensuring they secured their Permanent Voters Card which he described as divine instrument to rescue the country.

“When Jesus said we should watch and pray, he meant there are things that call for prayers and those we need to take concrete actions. With God all things are possible but we must show faith and hard work,” he said.

While commending the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo for restoring security in the state, Ndukuba called for support to ensure the situation was sustained.

Speaking, Governor Soludo praised the spirit of ecumenism existing between the Anglican and Roman Catholic, noting that such unity guaranteed better and peaceful coexistence in the society.

On the forthcoming general elections, Soludo said Southeasteners required extreme organisation and hardwork to get what they want. 

“I pray God to enable us and give us the wisdom to realise how Nigerian politics works rather than every four years we play this by the emotion and the heart. 

“We must learn that politics is played largely with the head. We require extreme organisation to get what we want. We must set out and work for it. It is not gotten by mere dream,” he stressed.

On his part, Delta state governor Ifeanyi Okowa called for more prays from the church, stressing that with prayers Nigeria would not repeat the mistakes of the past. 

“We have made mistakes in the past by following the wrong path. We must continue to pray, while we appeal to our clerics to continue to pray for the country,” he said.