***Calls for Godly Leadership in Nigeria
The National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke has issued a clarion call for Nigerians to embrace moral leadership, respect religious freedom, and actively participate in politics ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, Bishop Oke framed his message around the urgent need to tackle insecurity, protect Christian communities, and reform governance at both federal and state levels.
Bishop Oke, who was in the nation’s capital to participate the dedication of the first National Assembly Christian chapel in the history of Nigeria’s parliamentary democracy praised the National Assembly and the First Lady for the initiative.
“I want to commend the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives for thinking of putting up a chapel where they can pray and listen to the Word of God. It is very commendable,” he said.
He also acknowledged the First Lady’s contribution, adding, “May God continue to bless her, may God continue to bless the President, and may God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
While the dedication of the chapel highlighted spiritual growth in government circles, Bishop Oke used the platform to raise pressing concerns over the country’s security situation, which he described as alarming. “Warri is under attack. Edo is under attack. Oyo State is under attack by bandits,” he said, stressing that the proliferation of kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism threatens national stability.
The PFN president urged legislators to prioritize security reforms and cooperate with President Bola Tinubu on establishing state police. “Every state should be governed by people who understand the terrain and can respond quickly to the menace of terrorists and kidnappers,” he said. Bishop Oke further noted that laws alone are insufficient without adequately paid and properly equipped police officers. “It should not be a situation where they carry old weapons while criminals carry sophisticated weapons,” he warned.
Highlighting the broader moral dimension of governance, Bishop Oke linked national peace to spiritual integrity, urging both leaders and citizens to embrace Godly principles. “We should stop killing ourselves. We should stop banditry. We should stop kidnapping,” he said, adding, “Let it begin from the leaders and then spread to the led. Let’s walk in the fear of God and love our neighbour as ourselves.”
Bishop Oke’s concerns also extended to the alarming attacks on Christian communities, which he described as a deliberate attempt to destabilize the country. “The reality on the ground is that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria. Christian communities are being attacked consistently,” he said. While acknowledging that Muslims are also victims of violence, he emphasized that radical extremists primarily target those who resist their ideology. “The primary objective of these extremists is to wipe out Christianity and turn Nigeria into an Islamic state,” Bishop Oke said.
He called on the government to defend all lives and property, regardless of faith, and to ensure that killings of both Christians and Muslims are stopped.
In addition to security, Bishop Oke strongly advocated for a clean, transparent, and credible electoral process in the 2027 elections.
“No election is worth the blood of a single Nigerian,” he stated. “Election should not be do-or-die. Let’s campaign and persuade the people. If they vote for you, fine. If they don’t, fine.”
He also emphasized the need for an impartial electoral commission, urging INEC to operate without bias toward any party.
On the topic of election transparency, Bishop Oke called for electronic transmission of results to eliminate human error and corruption. “Our elections should not only be free and fair, they must be seen to be free and fair,” he said. “Whatever makes Nigerians doubt the credibility of an election is dangerous. Let election results be transmitted electronically — instantly — without manual interference.”
He warned against reintroducing manual collation, noting that it creates opportunities for both mistakes and manipulation.
Bishop Oke also addressed the broader theme of religious freedom and fairness in governance. He stressed that government must treat all citizens equally, irrespective of faith, tribe, or creed.
“Stop promoting one religion above another,” he said. “Let religion be a private practice according to conscience. Murder is murder. Kidnapping is criminality. Land grabbing is criminality. Treat every religion equally.”
In closing, the PFN president called on Christians to actively engage in political processes at all levels. “Go and get your voter’s card very urgently. If you don’t vote, don’t complain about who emerges,” he said. He urged believers to move beyond voting, stressing the importance of grassroots involvement. “The time has come for Christians to get involved in politics. Don’t just vote — get involved from the grassroots. If good people don’t get involved, you cannot clean it up.”
Bishop Oke’s intervention comes at a time of heightened insecurity, political tension, and growing concerns over religiously motivated violence. His remarks underscored the need for moral and spiritual leadership, community vigilance, and proactive participation in governance to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy and protect vulnerable populations.
By combining a spiritual appeal with concrete calls for security reform, electoral integrity, and inclusive governance, Bishop Oke has positioned religious leadership as a critical voice in shaping the nation’s political and social future.
