The Methodist Church Nigeria has raised the alarm over rising insecurity, economic hardship, corruption, unemployment and declining living standards.
The Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr Oliver Ali Aba, stated this on Monday at a press briefing held at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Cathedral of Light, Agodi Gate, Ibadan, after the conclusion of the church’s 50th/15th Biennial Conference.
The church he said could no longer keep quiet amid daunting challenges confronting Nigerians, stressing that religious institutions had a responsibility to speak up for the people and demand better governance.
The conference which held in the Archdiocese of Ibadan from August 2 to 9, had as its theme, “I Will Fight for You,” taken from Exodus 14:14.
On the state of the nation, Aba said the church would continue to draw attention to issues affecting citizens, regardless of whether its interventions were welcomed by those in power.
He said: “We cannot keep quiet,” adding that the church must continue to serve as the conscience of society and speak for those who may not have the platform to make their voices heard.
According to him, political leaders often approach religious leaders for prayers and support when seeking political office and should equally be prepared to listen when religious institutions raise concerns about governance and the welfare of citizens.
He said Nigerians are not asking for special privileges from the government but expect their basic rights, particularly the protection of lives and property and the provision of democratic dividends, to be guaranteed.
He expressed support for the proposed creation of state police, arguing that a decentralised policing structure could strengthen grassroots intelligence gathering and improve the ability of security agencies to respond promptly to threats.
The Methodist Church however, commended recent security operations that led to the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as well as other successful rescue efforts across the country.
He called for stronger collaboration between government and religious institutions in tackling the social and economic challenges facing the country.
On the challenge of attracting young people to the church, he argued that the solution went beyond modernising church programmes or adopting contemporary approaches.
He said the conduct and integrity of church leaders remained critical to restoring confidence in the institution, particularly among younger Nigerians.
He urged Methodist leaders to demonstrate the values they preach, stressing that young people would be more inclined to identify with the church when they see its leaders living exemplary lives.
