A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, and the Bishop of Ibadan, Anglican Communion, The Most Reverend Joseph Akinfenwa, have called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to address insecurity and improve the welfare of Nigerians.
The duo spoke at the Easter service and send-forth ceremony organised in honour of Bishop Akinfenwa, who is the retiring bishop at the Cathedral of St. James the Great, Oke-Bola, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Ayorinde, who is the Deputy Chancellor of the church, said Nigeria’s security challenges stem largely from the disconnect between government and the people, stressing the need for a people-centred approach to leadership.
According to him, governance must go beyond symbolic gestures, urging leaders to be actively involved in the lives of citizens.
“There is no real government involvement in the lives of the people. It is more than incidents happening and leaders going there to visit for a few minutes before moving on. We must be actively involved in the lives of the people. That is the only way to tackle insecurity,” he said.
The senior lawyer noted that many Nigerians have become disillusioned due to prevailing socio-economic conditions, emphasising the urgent need for hope and responsive leadership.
“Nigeria, let us have hope that things will be better. Right now, we need hope. We need our leaders to be more sensitive to the plight of the people. Governance must have a human face,” he added.
He also decried what he described as excessive politicking at the expense of development, insisting that improving the welfare of citizens should be the priority of government.
“What we see now is politics and more politics, while the masses are not happy. We need development. Leadership must focus on improving the lives of the people,” he said.
Ayorinde further urged Nigerians to hold their leaders accountable, stressing that public office holders must be made to answer for their actions.
“In leadership, we must put their feet to the fire. Let them answer questions. That is how Nigeria can become better,” he said.
Reflecting on the retiring bishop, he described him as a devoted servant of God whose nearly three decades in ministry had left a lasting impact, noting that his contributions would be greatly missed.
“He was a great man of God. He has done everything God would ask him to do in the ministry. We will surely miss him,” he said.
In his remarks, Akinfenwa lamented that insecurity may prevent Christians in some parts of the country from celebrating Easter freely, calling on all stakeholders to ensure peace and safety across the nation.
He also urged the government to urgently address the rising cost of fuel, warning that Nigerians are increasingly unable to cope with the economic burden.
The cleric stressed that ensuring security and economic relief for citizens should be a priority, particularly at a time when many Nigerians are facing hardship.
