Rev. Felix Omobude is the General Overseer of New Covet Gospel Church and president of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). In this interview with choose Journalists, he spoke on the incessant killings throughout the nation and different points affecting the polity. TITUS AKHIGBE was there for The Daily Times.
The scenario within the nation because it impacts safety has been very troubling, there may be hardly any day that you just don’t hear of bloodshed, killings both by Boko Haram, suicide bombings or herdsmen throughout the nation, how do you react to the event?
The PFN is drastically anxious that Nigeria is degenerating to a failed state, whereas we have now an authorities in workplace. It seems that this example is overwhelming to our safety forces.
The PFN calls on authorities on the numerous ranges to make sure the protection and safety of Nigerians no matter their tribes or faith. We maintain the present administration to their marketing campaign guarantees of change for the higher.
We name on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his authorities and the ruling party to take a take a look at the guarantees made to Nigerians and make each effort to meet them. Like you'll know, the price of dwelling is turning into very excessive.
When this authorities got here into energy in 2015, the value of petrol was N87, however as at at present, it's N145. I can go on and on; I imply those that do worldwide enterprise is aware of the worth of Naira 4 years in the past and what it's at present. It is 2 or thrice greater than what it was.
So, we're calling on the federal government to stand up and do the needful by making Nigeria a secure nation. Reduce the poverty degree and make life extra significant.
How would you react to the assertion from some individuals particularly from the North that perpetrators of felony actions which many Nigerians describe as herdsmen are armed bandits from outdoors the nation?
Well, we're amazed that our President can announce that within the UK and the United States and has not stated it at dwelling. But even when that was the reality; if somebody is utilizing my identify to perpetrate evil I ought to battle it, I ought to cease it and I'll say don’t achieve this.
So, if these persons are from outdoors, it's the authorities’s accountability to test the borders, fish them out, as a result of it isn't your (press) accountability or mine to do this. So, they need to do the needful.
The nation has by no means had it so unhealthy as on day by day foundation persons are massacred in several elements of the nation. Would you say that it's acceptable to explain the perpetrators as terrorists?
Honestly, no matter language you utilize to explain their actions, all of it runs to terrorism. But do you exit and say that they're cattle herders solely to sneak out and convey AK 47, kill proprietor of farms, rape their wives after which disappear into the tin air. So, it's terrorism.
Would you say that Buhari has finished sufficient to cease these killings because it began. Has the President finished sufficient?
Well, I'll go away that to Nigerians to resolve, however the PFN is saying that the accountability of presidency is to secure guard the folks. So, if it was sufficient, we is not going to have been crying.
The cries are in all places, I imply throughout party traces, I imply after we are coping with this problem, we shouldn't be considering that his is in my party or your party, we would like these items stopped.
It doesn’t actually matter to us which party is ruling, we would like good authorities, and we would like peace and safety for all Nigerians.
The problem of hate speech; folks see it as an instrument being utilized by the federal government of the day to manage church leaders particularly the clampdown on some church buildings largely from the Southern a part of the nation. What is your tackle that?
It is a Christian advantage to talk issues which are true and issues that portrait the peaceable coexistence and we stand by that.
We don’t encourage hate speeches, as a result of it actually can degenerate into downside that we can't management, however whereas clampdown on non secular leaders, politicians who on day by day foundation are talking hate, who stand up and say one party is put in a coffin, what do you name that? It is hate speech.
So, I name on Nigerians, we are able to play politics and be civil and present understanding. You can criticise a problem, however not essentially rubbishing the individual.
There is concern because the 2019 election attracts close to; within the Nigeria of at present, there may be an excessive degree of ethnic and spiritual intolerance, how do you view that circumstance now that we're transferring nearer to electioneering 12 months?
We can solely however enchantment to Nigerians to be tolerant. You can't inform them to not communicate the reality. You see, peace and fairness are necessary.
Justice and fairness are sort of fulcrum on which egalitarianism thrives. Justice should not solely be finished, it have to be seen to have been finished.
If you take a look at the nation at present, some ethnic teams really feel marginalised, left behind and a few non secular teams feels governors/authorities is tilting towards that course. Those driving the ship of state should not solely be true, however have to be seen to be simply and have to be convincingly too.
On the problem of restructuring, do you subscribe to the restructuring of the nation?
Honestly, I consider that democracy supplies for it. I consider that if restructuring will give us a safer, equitable and simply society, why not go for it.
In the North-East, schooling is amongst a kind of issues that's missing as a result of impression of insurgency within the space, the Chibok women, Dapchi women. How do you suppose we are able to reposition the tutorial system within the North-East within the face of sequence of assaults on day by day foundation? They appear to be lagging behind?
Education is the best method of creating the thoughts and the society. The insurgency that got here and occupies a sure area of the nation is as a results of the neglect of schooling, particularly in that area for a very long time.
I consider that authorities at numerous ranges ought to pay extra consideration to the schooling of the Nigerian little one irrespective of the place they're. Now, wanting on the North-East, actually we have now a monumental problem with the occasional present by Boko Haram and the opposite sects; many individuals are afraid to ship their youngsters to highschool.
I feel that authorities has made some efforts, however they need to enhance on the safety conditions, encourage dad and mom to ship their youngsters to highschool and making it an offence if you happen to fail to ship your youngsters to highschool.
One of the Dapchi School woman that's nonetheless within the captivity of the Boko Haram sect, Leah Sharibu on account of her refusal to resign Christianity and develop into a Muslim. What is your recommendation to the federal government regarding her freedom?
Well, the case of Leah Sharibu has develop into a very troubling scenario as a result of if those that adopted her didn't say the explanation why they stored her again, one would perceive.
But very vocally from what we have now learn, they stated they had been retaining her as a result of she refused to resign her religion. This is among the banes of society, the explanation why there may be mis-trust on the a part of one facet of the Nigerian society and of the opposite.
Why will a number of teenage women be adopted? And you launch the remaining and you keep one simply because she is a Christian. So, if the federal government at dwelling don't do something, it simply left us to consider that the mission that we have now not but identified is beneath taking part in.
Everyday that Leah stays behind is creating some rigidity among the many non secular teams within the nation and I'll name on the federal government to do all the things attainable to point out that they're neutral.
And that they aren't with Boko Haram. Even whether it is ransom or no matter they need to pay, they need to pay it and get Leah again.
Concerning the safety problem going through the nation, what can the church do to help the federal government to finish these violent killings within the nation?
Well, we is not going to cease to advocate for peace, as a result of if God wished Nigeria to be solely a Christian nation, it was not a not possible factor for Him to do.
If He wished Nigeria to be solely a Muslim nation, He had the facility to do it, however He didn't do it. He wished us collectively and we should respect that.
We have continued to talk the reality to the powers that be; advocate for justice. Besides, we all know the facility of prayers and we're actively engaged in praying for the peace, security and prosperity of Nigeria.
Recently, the PFN declared a one 12 months prayer programme for the nation. I'd need you to throw extra mild on it?
We have put in place a programme the place each hour of the day for the subsequent one 12 months is roofed by some folks praying for Nigeria each hour. On hour per hour foundation and it's on chain foundation throughout the nation. It began on the first of this month (May) and it will undergo to the subsequent 12 months.
The utterances and actions of some politicians have began to overheat the political system within the nation. Examples are the trial of Senator Dino Melaye and assault on Senator Matthew Urhoghide on the Benin Airport. Sir, are these growth not of concern to PFN?
Honestly, I assumed we have now gone previous this stage, politically. When I heard what occured on the Airport to Senator Urhoghide; on a private observe, I don't consider that impeaching President Muhammadu Buhari right now is within the curiosity of the nation.
I don’t consider so, however Senator Urhoghide was doing his job and he should have been allowed to do his job with out hurt and there may be want for political leaders to name their followers to order, as a result of 2019 election is across the nook.
You can have no Nigeria to rule whenever you burn it earlier than then. So, allow us to observe the rule of legislation and do issues as civilized folks. That is what I'll say.
Would you advise the President to alter the safety equipment owing to what has been occurring within the nation?
Well, it isn't my responsibility to advise him. I've heard calls from numerous quarters asking him to sack this or that.
Being the President, he's the President of Nigeria and if he has any employees working for him that's not assembly his want, he ought to know what to do as a result of, the success or failure of his administration is dependent upon the actions of the those who he places in workplaces.
So, I feel once in a while, a good chief ought to have an over view of those that are working for him and people not leaving to the billing must be dropped and people who must be lifted, must be lifted.
Would you agree that the safety scenario within the nation is being politicised by some individuals?
You can't rule out politics, however when persons are being killed day by day and we all know it, will you say that's politics? When a bomb explodes available in the market, church or mosque, do you see that as politics? I feel that they need to not suppose that Nigerians don’t know what they're doing. We have downside at hand, face it and resolve it.
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The PFN is drastically anxious that Nigeria is degenerating to a failed state, whereas we have now an authorities in workplace. It seems that this example is overwhelming to our safety forces. The PFN calls on authorities on the numerous ranges to make sure the protection and safety of Nigerians no matter their tribes or faith. We maintain the present administration to their marketing campaign guarantees of change for the higher.
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