Retiring archbishop of Kwara Province of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend Michael Akinyemi, speaks with BIOLA AZEEZ on the 2019 elections, the clamour for restructuring, and what the future holds for the country. Excerpts:
Activities leading up to the 2019 general election are in full swing. What is your advice for the electorate at this time?
Nigeria has not got a leader because leaders must be ready to sacrifice. Nigeria needs a leader, who is willing to show example, transparent, and must be the one who is active at the grassroots. As far as I know, we have said we have had free and fair elections. Very good, but we have not done election in this country. We are just doing selection. We are embarking on change of baton like a relay race. Now, politics has become a venture for enriching people. For a presidential system we borrowed from America, Nigeria is overspending to maintaining that system, even more than those we borrowed the idea of that system from. That is why you cannot get a leader except that system is overhauled. What is the purpose of amassing cars with public funds? Can’t that money be used to do something meaningful? The level of illiteracy in this country is high. Our country should promote literacy.
What is your take on calls for restructuring?
I will clamour that Nigerians should restructure themselves first. Let individuals restructure themselves, purge themselves of all malice and avarice. Whether you restructure the system and the same people are still there, you are just wasting your time. The people must be restructured. It is not the system. Whether you restructure or not, and the people are still what they are, it is a waste of time. The first step is that the people must be restructured to suit the purpose for which God has for this nation.
At 57, what is your assessment of Nigeria?
The founding fathers of Nigeria meant well by the formation of the country, although, they never looked far into the future of Nigeria. Those who were in politics, at that time, sacrificed and were mature. Nowadays, people have started putting ethnicity and regionalism into politics.
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