The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has accused political leaders of abandoning their primary duty to protect citizens, asserting that the country's worsening insecurity is fueled by a misplaced focus on winning elections at all costs.
PFN National President Bishop Francis Wale Oke disclosed this in an address presented at the Assemblies of God Church in Calabar at the conclusion of three days of national fasting and prayer. Bishop Oke's address, read by Cross River State Chairman of the PFN, Dr. Trinity Ogar, stated that Nigerians are "sick and tired" of banditry, kidnappings, and mass killings while governments offer "empty promises" and rehabilitate suspected Boko Haram fighters instead of prosecuting them.
"We are burdened for Nigeria today because we have lost our sense of value for human life and its sanctity," Bishop Oke said. "The level of banditry, kidnapping, violence, insecurity, and savage killings across the Nigerian landscape has risen to an intolerable height. While these satanic acts were going on, our political elites continued with business as usual as though nothing was happening. These are unspeakable and despicable acts of terror."
The PFN cited ongoing violence in Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Southern Kaduna, and the recent beheading of a teacher in Oyo as evidence that insecurity has become normalized. "We mourn the apparent lack of a firm political will by our government to crush these horrible evils in Nigeria," Bishop Oke added.
The PFN, he noted, has fasted, prayed, and now resolved to speak out against this evil, hoping that the government will give it deserved attention. The religious organization urged the federal government to fulfill its constitutional duty to protect all citizens, seek international help if needed, and shift its priority from political contests to crushing the killers in Nigeria.
