A former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev Samson Ayokunle, on Friday urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently take decisive action to address the hunger, insecurity, and inflation currently bedevilling the country.
Ayokunle gave the advice while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 10th anniversary of the Oritamefa Baptist Model School Cambridge A’Level College, held at Yemetu in the Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State.
He lamented that it was becoming increasingly difficult for Nigerians to survive economically, calling on the President to implement policies that directly alleviate public suffering.
The cleric stated that while the removal of the petrol subsidy might have been intended as a policy measure, it had compounded economic hardship without sufficient measures to cushion the impact on citizens.
He stressed that Nigeria required a determined leadership that was not complicit in security challenges to effectively tackle terrorism, banditry, and other social vices.
“The feat that the Oritamefa Baptist Church is accomplishing in the field of education is a derivation from the ministry of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
“Baptists are known for three principal ministries church building, teaching, which has to do with education, and medical provision.
“With more resources available to the government, we expect the authorities to perform better in providing quality education, not only by releasing funds but also by monitoring allocations to ensure they are used for their intended purpose,” he said.
Speaking on the political future of the country, Ayokunle expressed optimism that Nigeria would overcome its current trials.
“Concerning 2027, what God revealed to me is that whatever happens to this nation, Nigeria will still survive and His will alone will manifest.
“Anyone who has given up is not supposed to be in this country, but the solution lies in a more determined leadership,” he said.
He urged political leaders to confront the security situation firmly, saying, “The moment leaders are no longer complicit in insecurity, Nigerians will breathe a sigh of relief.”
“The masses are his assessors, but let us speak the truth: there is hunger in the land, and the cost of living is too high. It is good that the subsidy was removed, but what is the average earning today in Nigeria compared to other oil-producing nations?”
“What we are paying workers now, compounded by the devaluation of the naira, has thrown many into abject poverty.
“It is very difficult for Nigerians to breathe economically, and a serious government that will not play politics with human lives must address this urgently,” he said.
Earlier, the immediate past pastor of Oritamefa Baptist Church, Rev Remi Awopegba, advised Nigerian youths not to allow environmental constraints to limit their potential.
“Don’t allow your environment to limit you. Start from where you are, because we realised that progress is driven by vision rather than certificates alone,” he said.
He recalled that the college started with only 29 students before expanding into a major academic institution designed to groom global scholars.
