61st Independence: Wike says Nigeria suffering from leadership failure

Ahead of Nigeria’s 61st Independence anniversary celebration, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said the country is still grappling with leadership challenges.

The governor who regretted the situation pointed out that such leadership failure has brought Nigeria to the point in its history where it needs God more than ever.

Wike made the assertion at the Interdenominational Church Service organised in commemoration of the 61st Independence Anniversary of Nigeria that held at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt on Sunday

He stated that there is hardly anything for Nigerians to celebrate as the country marks its 61st Independence anniversary because its leadership continues to entrench hatred, mediocrity, promote ethnicity and religion.

“This is the time that Nigeria needs God more,” he said, adding that “the country is gone. Insecurity everywhere. Everyone needs to say, God, we need you because man’s leadership has failed this country”.

The governor noted that perhaps the only thing Nigerians could boast celebrating was the existence of the name Nigeria.

Wike said; “At 61 years, Nigeria is full of enmity, full of divisions, hatred, ethnicity. A country that cannot put itself together.

“Everybody has responsibility. So ask yourself questions, have I done my own part?”

He also observed the sorry state of Nigeria and said that at 61, it was far removed from being a country that can compete favourably with prosperous countries of the world, given its abundant resources.

The governor bemoaned what has become of the nation’s legislature that continues to approve anything for the presidency and not minding the consequences.

He also decried how the nation’s judiciary has succumbed to intimidation because its judges have abandoned their responsibilities out of fear wondering what fate Nigerians would have under such seeming tyrannical atmosphere.

Wike further declared: “We cannot do the right things. Other countries are talking about how their elections will be transparent, we are talking about how we will rig the election in 2023.

“Simple thing, transmit election results electronically to show transparency, that really shows that the person you’re declaring won the election but we are afraid.”

“Where is the legislature. A legislature that cannot think. A legislature where anything they bring is right. A legislature that can not say that Nigeria has nothing to regret from conducting a free and fair election.

“A legislature that you’ll close your eyes. About borrowing, you say borrow. A legislature that cannot say that this money we are borrowing where is it, where are you applying it? You have no confidence to ask questions.

“The courts have been intimidated. The judges have abandoned their responsibilities out of fear. You’re seeing something that is wrong, but because you will be summoned in the night, you abandoned your responsibility.”

The governor also blamed the woes the country has suffered on all Nigerians who have refused to do the right things but rather allowed the wrong things to be perpetrated in all facets of the society.

He noted how ascendancy to leadership is no longer by merit but by ethnic affinity and religious consideration, even when such a person does not have the capacity required to function in such office.

In his sermon, Bishop of the Diocese of Niger Delta North, Rt. Rev. Wisdom Ihunwo, noted that only foolish people despise God and attribute their successes in life to their personal efforts and ingenuity.

Bishop Ihunwo said such foolish people abound in Nigeria because they have hearts of corruption, treat humanity with disdain and delight in doing abominable things and divert public funds for personal use.

According to Bishop Ihunwo, it is baffling that despite having leadership over the country, there is an unabated spree of killings, a seemingly thriving kidnapping business with some officers of the nation’s military killed without drastic measures taken to return Nigeria to the path of sanity.

While charging the church to rise to speak courageously against the wickedness in the land, Bishop Ihunwo declared the judgement of God upon the sponsors of such killings and kidnapping that have put Nigeria in a pitiable state that its people cannot celebrate the independence of the country at 61 years.

Special prayers were said at the service for God’s favour and grace upon Nigeria and its leaders, Rivers State Executive Council, judiciary and the legislature, for Governor Wike and his family, the church and its leaders.

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