Nigeria’s problem is beyond what human beings can handle ordinarily – Wale Oke, PFN President

As National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the Presiding Bishop of Sword of the Spirit Ministries (Christ Life Church), headquartered in Ibadan, Bishop Francis Wale Oke recently concluded the 2025 National Executive Retreat of the PFN in Uyo. He speaks in this interview on pressing national issues, insecurity, and PFN’s vision for Nigeria.

You just concluded your 2025 PFN National Executive Retreat in Uyo. What were the key resolutions?

One major resolution was the urgent need to intensify prayer and fasting for Nigeria. We acknowledged that the challenges Nigeria is facing go beyond human ability—they require divine intervention. So, we’re sending all participants back to their states with a renewed commitment to pray fervently for the nation.

Another critical resolution was to encourage grassroots political involvement among our members. While I personally cannot engage in partisan politics—since members of all political parties are my spiritual children—we are urging believers to do more than just vote. They should seek leadership positions starting at the ward level. This is the reason PFN created the Directorate of Politics and Good Governance, headed by Pastor Femi Emmanuel, a well-experienced and detribalized Nigerian.

Through this directorate, we’ve set up structures from the national down to the 774 local government areas and are now extending outreach to the ward level. The goal is to educate Christians on how to peacefully and actively engage in the political process and influence governance from within.

We also resolved that we must embody the change we preach. If we speak against corruption, tribalism, and nepotism, then we must demonstrate love and fairness to all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe or tongue. As the salt and light of the world, we believe that just as darkness cannot withstand light, evil will not prevail over Nigeria.

PFN turns 40 this year. What should we expect?

Yes, this is a milestone. The theme is “PFN: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.” To celebrate, we’ll host a special dinner and award night on October 27, 2025, bringing together 500 distinguished Nigerians—former presidents, vice presidents, governors, lawmakers, and business leaders who are Christians.

The event will honor their contributions to Nigeria’s development and PFN’s growth. It will also serve as the climax of our 40th-anniversary celebrations.

In your view, how can Nigeria tackle the worsening insecurity—banditry, kidnappings, and killings?

The current level of insecurity is completely unacceptable. This is not about communal clashes; it’s an orchestrated invasion by armed Fulani herdsmen attempting to displace indigenous communities in states like Benue, Taraba, and Plateau.

These attacks aren’t random—they’re systematic. The truth is, these lightly armed militants wouldn’t stand a chance against a properly mobilized Nigerian Army, unless there is internal compromise. Some individuals within the system are collaborating with Boko Haram, ISWAP, and these armed herdsmen. That’s why we’re calling for a complete overhaul of the national security architecture. Compromised personnel must be removed and replaced with patriotic, capable individuals.

There’s also evidence suggesting that some of these attackers are not Nigerians but are coming from neighboring countries like Chad and Niger. If that’s true, then Nigeria is under foreign invasion, and the military must act swiftly and decisively. But the military cannot act unless the Commander-in-Chief gives clear, firm instructions. We therefore appeal to President Tinubu to take decisive action and review the accuracy of the security reports he receives, as many contain false narratives that portray victims as aggressors.

Without addressing insecurity, there can be no real economic progress. Farmers can’t farm in peace unless they pay illegal “taxes” to herdsmen. Villages are being destroyed, taken over, and renamed by invaders. That’s not just insecurity; that’s lawlessness—a descent into a Banana Republic. The President must rise to the challenge, remove ineffective handlers, and restore sanity to our national security.

Would you say Nigeria’s insecurity crisis is a result of poor leadership?

Not entirely. To be fair, President Bola Tinubu is an experienced and pragmatic leader. He is courageous and decisive. However, when a leader is surrounded by compromised aides who feed him false narratives, even the best leader can become misled.

The issue isn’t the President’s capability—it’s the circle of influence around him. If he continues to rely on the same people, he’ll keep getting the same results. It’s time for a shake-up. After two years with no significant improvement in security, we need a change in personnel and strategy.

Our prayer is that God, through Jesus Christ, will guide the President to remove those misleading him and replace them with individuals who will truly prioritize the safety and well-being of Nigerians. We want an end to bloodshed and suffering in every part of the country—whether Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Zamfara, Borno, Sokoto, Ondo, or Enugu. Nigeria must become a safe haven where no citizen feels oppressed.

The country is also facing economic hardship. What’s your perspective on this?

The church is doing all it can, but the government holds the key to economic transformation. The state controls oil, agriculture, solid minerals, waterways, forests—virtually all economic resources.

What we are asking is simple: let the wealth of the nation circulate. It shouldn’t be concentrated in the hands of the top 5% of the population. Let it flow down to the grassroots through job creation, social welfare, and prompt payment of pensions and salaries. Palliatives should be properly administered, and the Minimum Wage Act must be implemented without delay.

Above all, we are praying that God will grant wisdom to those managing the economy and governance so they can make decisions that truly benefit the masses.