The national president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Archbishop Francis Wale Oke, has urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to tackle insecurity, economic hardship, corruption and illicit drug trafficking in the country.
Oke, in his Independence Day message to Nigerians to mark the nation’s 66th anniversary, also called on citizens to reflect on the state of the country and rededicate themselves to building a peaceful, united and prosperous Nigeria.
The message, contained in a statement issued by the Media Bureau of the PFN, congratulated Nigerians on the anniversary while acknowledging the progress recorded by the country over the past 66 years.
According to him, the Independence Day celebration should not only be a time of thanksgiving and rejoicing, but also an opportunity for Nigerians to engage in “deep and honest reflection” on the nation’s challenges.
“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,” he said.
Oke identified peace and security as essential foundations for national development, urging the government to ensure the protection of every Nigerian irrespective of location, ethnicity or region.
He called for intensified action against banditry and terrorism, particularly in forests and other areas used as hideouts by criminals.
“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 PFN president said.
On the economy, Oke expressed concern over the worsening hardship confronting Nigerians, urging both the Federal and state governments to take stronger measures to improve citizens’ welfare.
He said Nigeria’s abundant human and natural resources should be deployed for the benefit of the wider population rather than a privileged few.
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The PFN president also advocated the review of existing laws and the enactment of new legislation to create an enabling environment for businesses, while calling for aggressive industrialisation to expand the nation’s productive capacity and improve living standards.
Oke described corruption as a major threat to democratic governance, saying it had weakened accountability, transparency, justice and public trust.
“Governments at all tiers—whether national, state or local—need to try harder and tackle it headlong and wipe it out so that every Nigerian will enjoy the dividends of democracy,” he said.
He further expressed concern over the production and trafficking of illicit drugs in Nigeria, particularly the danger posed to young people.
He urged the authorities and citizens to intensify efforts to protect the younger generation from the menace.
Oke appealed to Nigerians across ethnic, religious and social divides to unite in building a nation founded on peace, justice, love and righteousness.
“Nigeria can be great again, but we must all play our parts,” he said, stressing that the country’s progress depended on the collective responsibility of its citizens.
He urged Nigerians to think, speak, and act in ways that would promote national development and accelerate progress, while calling for continued faith in God and commitment to the ideals of the nation’s founding fathers.