Nigeria @66: Clerics urge leaders to govern with fear of God - Punch Newspapers

As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence anniversary, clerics have urged leaders at all levels to govern with the fear of God and ensure the country’s resources are properly managed for the benefit of citizens.   A cleric with Christ Embassy, Owo, Ondo State, Pastor Peter Austin, made the call in Akure on Thursday while speaking with journalists as part of activities marking the 20th edition of the church’s annual Reach Out Nigeria campaign. Austin said Nigeria was endowed with sufficient resources to achieve significant development but stressed that effective leadership and prudent management of the nation’s resources were necessary to translate the potential into tangible benefits for the people. According to him, some of the challenges confronting the country, particularly in the economy and security sectors, were linked to decisions taken by those in positions of authority. “Our leaders should have the fear of God. When they govern the nation with the fear of God in their hearts, I think they will be able to do things the right way. God’s wisdom is also very important,” he said. He added that proper management of the country’s resources would promote development across communities. “Nigeria has resources, and when those resources are properly managed, everybody will benefit,” Austin said.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google Earlier, the Zonal Pastor, Christ Embassy South West Zone 5, Pastor Yinka Ezire, said Reach Out Nigeria was an annual nation-building and evangelical campaign launched by the church in 2007. Ezire said the campaign, which peaks around October 1, was designed to promote patriotism, spiritual renewal and hope through evangelism, community development and other activities. She said the 20th edition would feature the distribution of copies of the church’s _Rhapsody of Realities_ devotional to households, hospitals, prisons and other institutions. The campaign would also include Independence Day carnivals and rallies, community development projects, social interventions and prayer initiatives, she added. The Chairman of Akure South Local Government, Dr Gbenga Fasua, represented by the council secretary, Iteyemi Adegoroye, commended the initiative, particularly its focus on young people. Nigeria @ 66: Aiyedatiwa calls for joint efforts on nation building Soludo urges unity, resilience at Nigeria’s 66th independence anniversary Nigeria@66: Makinde calls for unity, highlights achievements “Anything that concerns the people is a good initiative. They have been doing this over time, and for those who have been listening to it, they can feel the impact,” he said. Meanwhile, the President of the International Fellowship of Ecumenical Ministries, Archbishop Osazee Williams, has also called for greater use of Nigeria’s national anthem as a tool for civic education. Williams, in a statement marking the Independence anniversary, urged schools to teach pupils the history, meaning and relevance of Nigeria, We Hail Thee, rather than limiting its use to routine recitation during morning assemblies. He described the anthem as a national covenant containing a prayer for the country, a commitment to fellow citizens and an expression of Nigerians’ aspirations. “We are teaching them to sing a song of hope without understanding the weight of its promise,” Williams said. He said the anthem’s message of unity should be used to teach children the importance of peaceful coexistence despite ethnic, religious and regional differences. Williams particularly referenced the line, “Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand,” saying pupils should understand that national unity requires more than memorising the words. He also highlighted the anthem’s call to service, saying schools should teach children the meaning of civic responsibility. “Service is not just a career, but a character. Pride is not just a feeling, but a responsibility,” he said. Williams noted that Nigeria, We Hail Thee was adopted at independence in 1960 before being replaced in 1978. It was restored after President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law on May 29, 2024. He advocated the teaching of the anthem across primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, with its themes incorporated into subjects such as history, civic education and literature. “Teaching the anthem is not about rote memorisation. It is about nation-building,” Williams said. He urged schools, parents, religious organisations and other stakeholders to use the anthem to teach young Nigerians about citizenship, unity, responsibility and service. Daniel Ayantoye Daniel, well versed in print and multimedia journalism with about 10 years experience, is also a videographer, photographer, cinematographer, video editor, and website developer

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