Nigeria is challenged by economic hardship, social dislocations —Uyeh

Pastor (Dr) Senior Gabriel Uyeh is the vice-president of The Apostolic Church Nigeria and Lagos Area, Western and Northern Area (LAWNA). SEYI SOKOYA brings excerpts of his interview with journalists where he spoke about the church’s responsibility and the way forward for Nigeria.

THE current situation in the country has brought untold hardship to many Nigerians. What is your take?

The support the church can give to the government is [pieces of] advice or suggestions. Everybody is affected, I am personally affected by hunger. If the government can retrace its steps, it will help the people. That is why I believe that Nigeria will rise again. Recently, we returned to the old national anthem, ‘Nigeria we hail thee’. I accepted it because I was one of the people who enjoyed independence in 1960. I was in secondary school then; we enjoyed the rice, the big piece of meat, and everything free they gave us. I believe that God will restore us to that era in Nigeria again. We should not rely on only oil. You know that is the cause of Nigeria’s problem.

Some people have said that some notable religious leaders have been mute since the current administration took power. Could this be true?

Some church leaders may be silent, but some are not. When you have the opportunity, it is good for a leader to speak. You have to tell the truth, whether for death or life. There are still such leaders who can speak the truth to power. I was one of the people who was in Aso Rock a few months ago. We told President Tinubu how people are suffering, and dying daily. We let him know that we are not happy with the situation, as Christians and Christian leaders. Jokingly, he said that he was not happy and that he was suffering too. You can see that the suffering of the people is touching him. That was what he said. We are still helping him in prayers that the Lord will give him the divine enablement to do better. It is not good for religious leaders to be silent.

Prophets of our church speak. When God orders us we bring to the people in charge, either at federal, state, or local levels. It depends on them to accept it, use it, or throw it down. Our prophets are fearless in telling what is happening. This year, the Lord told us that our Redeemer is very strong, despite the persecution, troubles, or challenges. The Lord of hosts will surely fight for us. He will plead our cause and that is what the Lord is doing for us. We still believe God is speaking to us, to the church, and to the nation.

How has your church supported people, especially at these trying times?

We have supported people, especially the underprivileged in various ways. The church the headquarters and branches, assemblies, and districts have alleviated the suffering of some people. Fingers are not equal, so there are people who require help. Recently, we supported some widows and widowers around the church; they were so delighted to go home with food items, and cash. We also prayed for them. That is the work of the church and everybody; I remind or exhort everybody, every minister, to do the same.

I also appealed to the government to help. It is a pity that some politicians are only favouring their party members. Imagine that some are self-centered with the palliatives that ought to be spread across the board. However, as a church, we have not neglected praying for the peace of the nation. We shall not relent in doing this. A voice is raised every hour around the country where we have our churches. There is no denying the fact that these are trying times for Nigeria. It is a time when the leadership and the followers need more prayers.

This is imperative because the sign we are seeing does not portray Nigeria as yet fulfilling its destiny. There is too much bloodshed here and there. Nigeria is challenged by unrelenting economic hardship and social dislocations. Though the leaders might have been trying to mitigate the situation, it appears to be defying solutions. This is why we need to pray more and as we pray we should also begin to amend our ways. The ship of the nation must not capsize. The Lord loves this nation. He loves that her people serve Him. He has a great destiny for Nigeria. It is important to add that ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.’

What is your advice to the church at large?

It behooves the church to rise to its responsibility as the only citadel and light of the world to prepare people to meet the Lord. We of The Apostolic Church as the first pentecostal church in Nigeria are very mindful of our placement by the Lord to offer sound and undiluted doctrine of the gospel of salvation to take away man from the path of darkness and gross darkness that is pervading the world.

Before now, the Lord has inspired the incumbent leadership of the territory with the vision to ‘RAISE’ the standards of the old Apostolic Christianity and identity that most of our youths, who make up the largest number of members of the Church today, do not know. By this, the new generation will be better positioned and more committed to the things of God. RAISE is the acronym for Remove, Admit, Institute, Strengthen, and Elevate, just as the Lord has commanded us to raise the banner of holiness through the cleansing of the Temple.

Do you have any advice for the leaders of the nation?

The nation’s leadership is advised to raise the banner of holiness, righteousness, and faithfulness. Leaders should begin to accept that they are called to serve their people and not any other interest. Show leadership by example. Do things that will break the trust deficit between the leaders and the followers. Show more empathy for the suffering of the masses. Nigeria can still be the pride of Africa. We can still have our glory back. Let me reiterate ‘I believe that Nigeria will rise again’. I see a greater Nigeria ahead of us. The government should rise to the challenges of frustration and hunger that pervade the land, be prudent in spending, and uphold justice.

They should not see the people as opponents and or enemies; rather see all as partners desirous of the progress and peaceful coexistence of the nation. Let them listen to the cry of the people particularly the youths who are agitated by the untoward situation our country finds her. The situation in the country calls for dialogue. I appeal for peace and understanding. Let me suggest that the government should give priority to de-escalation of the hunger in the land by taking some lessons from our glorious past.

They should be involved directly in agricultural production, and setting up agro-industrial processing factories at the grassroots level. Attention should be paid to the rehabilitation and construction of rural roads, as well as public transportation to reduce the prices of food in the market. Policies that can further aggravate the hardship and inflict pain on the people should be jettisoned and/or ignored.

Any word for Nigerians?

People should not lose hope in the nation. There are glorious days ahead. All hands must be on deck. Let us all direct our God-given potential to doing something profitable to take us out of social and economic decadence. Youths are the strength of the nation, and they must not be ignored. We appeal to them to learn from Isaac of old by sowing in the land, and putting all their talents to positive purposes to transform their country.

Let’s return the nation to the path of greatness and days when her people were regarded as the happiest people on earth. Time may be hard, and things may be difficult, yet the Lord’s good thoughts concerning the nation will come to pass. Let righteousness pervade the land from top to bottom. Righteousness exalts a nation. Let us flee from sin, corruption, and all wickedness. I appeal to all Nigerians to continue to pray that this nation rises again to assume its glorious place as an egalitarian society among the nations of the world. I pray that the God who rules in the affairs of men will take charge of the nation and let there be peace in the palaces of this country.

Seyi Sokoya