Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, says it is regrettable that 61 years of independence Nigeria, there is hardly anything to celebrate about as a country whose leadership is coated with hatred and mediocrity.
The governor pointed out that Nigeria is now at a point in its history, where it needs God more than ever.
Wike, speaking at the Interdenominational Church Service organised in commemoration of the 61st Independence Anniversary of Nigeria that was held at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt on Sunday noted that perhaps the only thing Nigerians can possibly celebrate is the existence of the name Nigeria.
According to him, “This is the time that Nigeria needs God more. The country is gone. Insecurity everywhere. Everyone needs to say, God, we need you because man’s leadership has failed this country.
“At 61 years, Nigeria is full of enmity, full of divisions, hatred, ethnicity. A country that cannot put itself together.Everybody has responsibility, so ask yourself questions, have I done my own part?”
The governor also blamed Nigerians who have refused to do the right things but rather allowed the wrong things to be perpetrated in all facets of the society, while noting how ascendancy to leadership is no longer by merit but by ethnic affinity and religious consideration.
He said this occurs even when such a person does not have the capacity required to function in such office.
Speaking further, Wike carpeted the National Assembly for approving anything for the Presidency without minding the consequences of their actions.
The Governor also said the nation’s judicial system had succumbed to intimidation because its judges abandoned their responsibilities out of fear and wondered “what fate Nigerians will have under such a seeming tyrannical atmosphere.”
He said: “We cannot do the right things. Other countries are talking about how their elections will be transparent, we are talking about how we will rig the election in 2023.
“Simple thing, transmit election results electronically to show transparency, that really that the person you’re declaring won the election but we are afraid.”
“Where is the legislature. A legislature that cannot think, a legislature, anything they bring is right, a legislature that can not say that Nigeria has nothing to regret from conducting free and fair elections.
“A legislature that you’ll close your eyes, anything they bring, about borrowing, you say borrow. A legislature that cannot say that this money we are borrowing where is it, where are you applying it? You have no confidence to ask questions.
“The courts have been intimidated. The judges have abandoned their responsibilities out of fear. You’re seeing something that is wrong, but because you will be summoned in the night, you abandoned your responsibility.”
Meanwhile, the Bishop of the Diocese of Niger Delta North, Rt. Rev. Wisdom Ihunwo in his sermon expressed that despite having a leadership, there is an unabated spree of killings in the country.
He noted that the Nation’s military have lost men to a seemingly thriving kidnapping business without the government taking measures to return Nigeria to the path of sanity.
The Bishop further charged the church to rise to speak against societal indices while declaring the judgement of God upon the sponsors of such killings and kidnapping that have put Nigeria in a pitiable state.
He, however, offered special prayers upon Nigeria and its Leaders, including the Rivers State Executive Council, the Judiciary and Legislature, the Church and its leaders, including the governor’s family.
