Insecurity: Cleric expresses concern

• Urges Buhari to accord security needed priority*

As President Muhammadu Buhari begins his second term in office, the National Vice President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke has admonished him to evolve a more pragmatic mechanism that could tackle the insecurity now becoming a disturbing feature in the country.

According to Oke, the spate of killings, kidnappings and other related crimes currently ravaging the nation, have become alarming.

Consequently, the PFN VP who is also the Presiding Bishop of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Ibadan, has therefore called on the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders, to take urgent steps in salvaging the situation before the people could take to self-defence.

The renowned cleric gave these warnings in a statement issued by his Media Office on Thursday in Ibadan while congratulating President Buhari and other elected politicians who have just been given fresh mandates to lead the country for another four years.

Oke who further bemoaned the degenerating security situation in the nation, strongly advised the government to be up and doing in arresting the situation so as to preserve the face of the country locally and internationally.

Though he agreed that  the government has not rested on its oars in a bid at ensuring that the country is secured, the Bishop was however of the opinion that more than ever before,security issues should occupy the front burner in government’s scheme of things.

“If nothing concrete is urgently done to curb the situation or arrest the ugly tide, the people can be forced to take to self-defence. This in itself, can be counter-productive as it can lead to jungle justice. Besides, the consequences can be dire. This is the more reason all government organs must wake up to save the nation and its people from this frightening situation.” the Cleric warned

He implored President Buhari and all elected politicians across political divides who have been given fresh mandates of four years term, to leave a worthy legacy by serving the country truthfully and with the fear of God.

The PFN VP lamented that the activities of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen, among others, have been tasking Nigerians, thereby putting them under perpetual fear, noting that no meaningful development could be achieved by the nation in such a situation.

To this effect, he maintained that all hands must be on deck in a bid to achieve the desired peace in the land, especially by the government and the citizens regardless of their political or religious leanings.

In  the same vein, the Bishop appealed to those elected and their parties, to always remember the electorate who voted them into power by giving them purposeful leadership devoid of partisanship, favoritism and nepotism, adding, “they should abstain from corruption and other vices capable of perpetually holding down the nation, a development that can further throw us into the abyss of hopelessness”

“Remember, another four years will soon be around the corner and the people can use their votes to send packing, whichever politician or party, found wanting”  the PFN National Vice President stressed.

Meanwhile, he has urged the populace to continue to support the government, advising also that the Church should not relent in its prayers for the nation and the people.