Ahead of the celebration of Nigeria’s 61st independence anniversary, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike said the country continues to face leadership challenges.

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

Wike made the statement at the interfaith church service in commemoration of Nigeria’s 61st independence anniversary held Sunday at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt.

He said there was virtually nothing for Nigerians to celebrate as the country celebrated its 61st anniversary of independence as its leaders continue to entrench hatred, mediocrity, promote ethnicity and religion. .

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

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

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

“Everyone has responsibilities. So ask yourself questions, have I done my part?

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

The governor lamented what has happened to the country’s legislature which continues to approve anything for the presidency and does not care about the consequences.

He also denounced how the country’s judicial system has succumbed to intimidation because its judges have abandoned their responsibilities for fear of wondering what fate Nigerians would have in such a tyrannical atmosphere.

Wike further said, “We can’t do the right things. Other countries are talking about the transparency of their elections, we are talking about how we are going to rig the elections in 2023.

“It’s simple, transmit the election results electronically to be transparent, it really shows that the person you are declaring has won the election but we are afraid.”

“Where is the legislature. A legislature that cannot think. A legislature where everything they bring is fair. A legislature that cannot say that Nigeria has nothing to regret for having conducted a free and fair election.

“A legislature whose eyes you will turn a blind eye to.” Regarding the loan, you say to borrow. A legislature that cannot say that this money that we borrow, where is it, where do you apply it? You have no confidence to ask questions.

“The courts have been intimidated. The judges abandoned their responsibilities out of fear. You see something wrong, but because you will be summoned into the night, you have let go of your responsibility.

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

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

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

Bishop Ihunwo said that such stupid people abound in Nigeria because they have corrupt hearts, treat humanity with disdain and pleasure in doing abominable things and embezzle public funds for personal gain.

According to Bishop Ihunwo, it is disconcerting that despite the leadership in the country, there is a relentless wave of killings, a seemingly flourishing kidnapping business with some National Army officers killed without drastic action. be taken to bring Nigeria back to reason.

While instructing the church to stand up to speak courageously against the wickedness in the country, Bishop Ihunwo declared God’s judgment on the sponsors of these murders and kidnappings which have put Nigeria in a pitiful state that his people do not cannot celebrate the country’s independence at 61.

Special prayers were said in the service for the favor and grace of God over Nigeria and its rulers, the Rivers State Executive Council, the judiciary and the legislature, for Governor Wike and his family, the church and its leaders.

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