Opinion
The Church And Nigeria’s Problem
At an Apostolic Summit held in Lagos in November 2009, participants expressed disdain at the level of crises bedeviling all sectors of Nigeria.
They were particularly sad that Nigeria, which will mark 50 years of its independence this October, is wobbling after squandering opportunities that would have made it one of the most developed nations in the world.
Above all, participants were sad that the Church, which should seek solutions to the myriad of problems facing the nation, was itself part of the rot.
The quest for a solution to identified problems at that summit gave birth to the Christian Consultative Forum (CCF) led by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.
According to Oritsejafor, the forum is focused on ridding Nigeria of incessant violence, injustice, ineptitude, abuse of office by leaders, corruption and irresponsibility in the corridors of power.
The forum is also out to stop Christians’ indifference toward proffering lasting solutions to the nation’s problems.
The Pastor said that the church must lead the quest for a better Nigeria. He noted that major reformations recorded in other shores came about because God raised voices that “passionately, artfully and powerfully communicated the truth.
“We hope that the Forum will mobilise credible Christians to reverse this trend by making meaningful contributions socially, politically and financially.
“We also hope that this ideal can be achieved on the platform of the CCF, whose objective is to transform Nigeria into a progressive developed nation through the Church,” Oritsejafor stressed.
Quoting the Scriptures, he referred to Christians as “the Church of the living God, the pillar and the ground of truth”.
While noting that Christians were called the “salt of the earth and the light of the world” in the scriptures, he said that such was a reference to their commission to be solution providers to human problems.
“Christians must be awakened and their hearts stirred up to act concerning issues on ground. It is imperative that it be done now.
“We believe the time is right for Christians to take a bold step towards solving problems in the nation’s affairs. There is the need for Christians to act now; not tomorrow; not later, but now,” he said.
Like Oritsejafor, many Christians have noted that the 50th year is usually celebrated in the scriptures as the year of jubilee, freedom, correction, restoration and a new beginning.
Pastor Adamu Buba of the ECWA Church, Nyanya-Abuja, said “this is Nigeria’s 50th year after independence and it is usually a year of jubilee and new beginnings. Today, I urge all Christians to act.’’
Adamu challenged Christians to actively participate in the efforts toward regenerating the nation and urged Christian experts and professionals to lend their strong voices to the issues.
He also urged Christians in “the media to broadcast and preach true Christian ethics and practices until blindness to what is right ceases to plague the society”.
But as the clergy continue to seek the righteous path toward ridding Nigeria of its problems, many are wondering if the Church has a voice strong enough to bring about any positive change in Nigeria.
Can the Christian body spearhead Nigeria’s transformation and should good Christian men and women continue to keep silent while injustice, degradation and rottenness pervade the nation?
According to Oritsejafor, these are issues at the centre of the agenda of the CCF as it seeks answers to the sad situation of a nation blessed with huge resources but suffocating under corruption-induced poverty.
Nigeria’s former high commissioner to the UK, Dr. Christopher Kolade, said the only way toward a regenerated Nigeria was to revive family values and boost parental and communal responsibility.
He stressed the need for discipline as norm in daily life and a reliable system for ensuring consistently good performance.
Kolade described Nigeria as a land God created and endowed with human, natural, mineral and climatic resources of copious quantity and eminent quality, with great opportunities for success.
“Our major problems now is that the country is bedeviled by seven prominent maladies which include confusion of priorities, self interest above national interest, and a disdain for truth and justice.
“There is also the abuse of authority and privileges of office, very weak concept of accountability, focus on politics rather than governance, selection and promotion by patronage rather than performance, and the lack of stakeholder empowerment.”
He advised Nigerians to sink energy into building, rather than fighting, while mistakes and failures should be turned into opportunities for learning.
Kolade said, however, that the problem of the Church was that it saw itself as a social institution and acting like others.
“The Church, which as a spiritual fellowship of Christians, should focus on its divine mandate, drawing inspiration and strength from God, rather than from its environment.”
To be able to lead Nigeria’s quest for regeneration, Kolade said the Church must continue to emphasise competence, faithfulness, probity, transparency, commitment, courage, ethical values, good behaviour and accountability.
“Above all, the Church must lead by example,” he said.
But Mr Gbenga Badejo, a Christian leader, noted that the Church was contributing to the rot because its leaders have continued to exhibit a lot of arrogance.
He wanted the Church to champion new things in the realm of its commission and operation which the society should follow.
Mr Mike Igini, the Director of the Lagos-based Centre for Leadership Values and Policy, on his part, said it was sad that Nigeria’s leaders have made the country a “litter-bin of missed opportunities of what the nation should have been”.
He was also angry that the Church was being sycophantic and blessing the political leaders who stole the people’s mandate to enter into government.
Dr Gamaliel Onosode, former chairman of Cadbury Nigeria plc, was disappointed at steps to make the Church look like a political entity.
“I don’t think the Church should be called into politics. It should only teach, preach and heal, both spiritually and physically,” he said.
He noted that Jesus was clear about His Kingdom’s mission when he said that his kingdom was not of the earth, adding that Christ never cared whether the Jews were under the Roman government or another set of rulers.
“The business of Christians is to be the light of a dark world,” he said and regretted that Churches today no longer punish straying members.
“That has encouraged bad behaviour,” he said and implored the Church to ensure a monitoring system that would know what its members do outside the Church environment and to discipline erring ones.
“I have never heard of any comment from the pulpit on the banking sector upheaval,” he lamented.
Like Onosode, many Christians are of the view that the Church in Nigeria must restore right values, re-instate high standards and respect orderliness, if the nation is to forge ahead.
Iheaka is a staff of NAN.
Ijendu Iheaka
Opinion
Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Opinion
Checking Herdsmen Rampage
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
Opinion
Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.
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