In a significant intervention on the nation's escalating security challenges, a former President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Reverend Felix Omobude, has declared that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Nigerian government seeking external help to combat terrorism.
Call for International Assistance
Speaking to journalists in Benin on Sunday, the respected cleric dismissed arguments that inviting foreign powers would violate Nigeria's sovereignty. He presented a stark counter-argument, stating that Nigeria's sovereignty has already been compromised by insurgents from other countries who have effectively taken over parts of the nation.
"I heard that American people want to come and help us. Some people are saying it violates our sovereignty. I don't think that is right," Omobude asserted. "Already, our sovereignty has been violated by these insurgents who came from another country and have taken us over. It is like the military itself is infiltrated. So I don't see what is wrong in asking for help. For external help."
Warning Against Vigilantism and Support for State Police
The former PFN leader, while acknowledging that Christians could organize protection through appropriate channels during church services, issued a strong warning against believers taking up arms. He described such a scenario as a recipe for chaos and further complication of the security situation.
"It will be irresponsible for a leader at certain levels for example to call for arms, to call for violence," he cautioned. "Violence will give birth to violence, we don't have another nation." He emphasized that the church's restraint should not be mistaken for weakness, affirming continued commitment to prayer, advocacy, and public education.
Omobude also expressed strong support for the decentralization of the police force, revealing that during his eight-year tenure as PFN president, he had consistently advocated for state police. He commended President Bola Tinubu's recent directive on the matter, describing the current centralized policing system as "anti-development."
A Worrisome National Reality
Reflecting on the country's downward spiral, the clergyman expressed deep concern, noting that if anyone had prophesied Nigeria's current predicament about 15 years ago, people would have dismissed it as unbelievable. "But here we are, it is very worrisome," he lamented, capturing the mood of many Nigerians.
His comments come at a time when the nation grapples with persistent security threats, including terrorism, banditry, and kidnappings, which have affected various regions and specifically targeted religious congregations, making his perspectives particularly relevant to the ongoing national discourse on security reforms.
