Fagbemi, who stated this at the thanksgiving service to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Owo Diocese, held at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Owo, said: “The recent kidnap introduces lot of complications into the system, because the president pledged that he would bring back the Chibok girls, and accused the previous administration of not being effective.
“However, this happened right under his watch. You would have thought that our president would actually be everywhere to say, ‘look, we are there with you and understand what is going on. The kidnap of the girls also means that the weakness of this government is being exposed to people and the president is not as efficient as he promised and the whole apparatus of government is no longer functioning well, since he came on board.
“So, what would they have achieved? I think this recent incident drives home the point that there is much insecurity in our land. The primary business of government is to provide security for the people. A government that fails to provide security has failed its people completely.”
He advised Buhari not to seek reelection, stating that “with all due respect, while we appreciate the interest of our president, I think he needs to retire as a statesman and allow younger people to actually lead in this country.”
Bishop Isaac Oluyamo of Ijesha North Anglican Diocese, who spoke on the theme, Arise and Shine, at the thanksgiving service, called on Christians to renew efforts towards being models of godly virtues. He encouraged them to ensure that their lights as Christians shone for the world to learn from.
At the reception held after the service, there was a talk tagged: Owo Diocese, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, with Chief (Dr) Adewunmi Ibitoye; diocesan treasurer, Chief N.O. Omosanya, and Reverend Canon T.S. Fasanu, as speakers.
Also present were the pioneer bishop of the diocese, Right Reverend Abraham Oluyemi Awosan, who prayed for the diocese; Bishop Rufus Ajileye Adepoju of Ekiti West Anglican Diocese and his wife, Christianah; Bishop Ezekiel Dahunsi of Idoani Angican Diocese, and chancellor of the diocese, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, who read the first lesson at the service.
Others were: Oloba of Uso, Oba Ademola Adebiyi Oyinbade Olaonipekun III; the Asuada of Isuada Land, Oba Oluwafemi Joel Adeluwoye II; chairman on the occasion, Professor D.F. Adene; representative of the Olowo of Owo, High Chief Lanre Famakinwa; wife of the bishop of the diocese, Mrs Florence Fagbemi; Dean of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Imola Owo, Ondo State, Very Reverend Raphael Agboola, among others.
“In one sense, it’s hard to say that he’s winning any war at the moment, because as he is trying to win one war, another one is coming up. So, I think he knows what governance means now.
So many ministers have been complaining that things are no longer functioning, yet there hasn’t been reshuffling. Nothing is happening and now they are thinking of another term; within the next one year they will be out of power.
He advised President Buhari not to seek reelection, stating that “a lot of us observing the politics of the land would honestly ask that our president to allow younger people to take over in the coming dispensation. We talk about Nigeria where we have so many people who are qualified and we are still talking about a president who is well over 70. When is it going to be the turn of young people to lead this country? We want people who are in touch; people who are aware of what is going on in the contemporary world; people who can match others when leaders gathered together.
“Apart from Africa, look elsewhere, you find out that there are young people full of activities, full of life leading their countries. So, with all due respect, while we appreciate the interest of our president, I think he needs to retire as a statesman and allow younger people to actually lead in this country.”
and then