At 51, Nigeria's independence annniversary is shadowed by challenges that include poverty, insecurity, corruption etc. Notwithstanding, voices of hope continue to rise above disturbing trends, expressing belief that better times would come... someday. GBENGA AKINFENWA, CHIGOZIE NWAUBA and KEMI AJANI spoke to some clerics.'Gov't Must Show Commitment To Enforcement Of Laws'(Legal Adviser, Nnewi Catholic Diocese)I WOULD want to be objective and sound realistic. In order to find out the tendency of the nation, one would need to isolate some basic areas of the national life and examine them. For instance, the economy of the nation is 200 per cent worse than it was in the early 80s; the education as an institution has multiplied in structures but has got no quality left to define it. From the primary to the university levels, quality has been compromised and malpractices officially institutionalised. It is no longer merit and hard work that counts but stealing. The government, teachers, parents, and indeed the society are all accomplices in this conspiracy against education. And where education is dead little or no advancement can crystallize. The health sector is worse for it. After 51 years, Nigeria cannot boast of one Health centre/ hospital of world-class. Patients flood the embassy everyday for visas to India for health care. Teaching hospitals lack basic equipment and General hospitals are closed down as in Anambra State. Is one to consider the institution of justice' Never has it gone so low in reputation as now.From this voyage of assessment one makes bold to assert that Nigeria has gone so much backwards and has not shown any interest in forward match.We do not need oracles to acquaint us with the necessary things to be done in order to salvage the nation. What we lack is the will to do the things we know. What is needed is patriotism, first by our leaders and then by the citizens. Once the leaders show sincere commitment to change, the citizens cannot but align with the prevailing tendency. There is a great and urgent need for spirited change without which the nation will dangerously vanish in the violence of a failed state. This change can come by the laws. The laws are there and they are good ones. Let the government show commitment to the enforcement of the laws and everything and everybody will re-position at once.'Insecurity Must Be Tackled'(General Overseer, His Praise Deliverance Chapel, Lagos)WE are lagging behind. We are still hoping the president is going to transform Nigeria as he promised. There are some evil people that are ready to destroy this country. An instance is the issue of Boko Haram. They have people that are supporting them. Government needs to get to the root of these people. In terms of security, education and the economy, Nigeria is not developed at all.But for the prayers of believers, Nigeria would have been worse than what we are going through now. Wise Nigerians are praying but our leaders are not seeking the face of God before taking steps. If our leaders can seek the face of God and bring in experts in various fields, I think there will be transformation.'Leaders Must Be Responsible'(Bishop, African Church, Abeokuta Diocese)THE fact that we have a country we call ours is the work of the Lord. Despite 51 years of independence, Nigeria still has all the features of a failed state. However, there is still hope that we can get it right, provided our leaders, both political and religious, decide to lead the populace aright and in the fear of God.All the challenges we are facing were created by the elite. I believe that we need to have a representative assembly, a platform to decide how we want the future of our country to be. The current peace of the graveyard is not acceptable. I can say we are moving gradually because we can see pockets of development in some states of the federation.'Nation Will Move Foward'(General Overseer, Reigning King Int'l, Owode, Ota, Ogun State)OUR 51 years of independence is a wilderness experience. We have been stagnant. We are not moving forward or backward. I pray for God's revolution in the heart of every one in this country. The book of Proverb 14:34 says, 'Righteousness exalt a nation but sin is reproach to any people'. So we need righteousness in all our arms of government, in every home, school, church and mosque. This nation would move forward and forget the wilderness experience.'We Need Committed Leaders'(Global Church of The Living God, Oke-Ira, Ajah Lagos)IF we look at Nigeria from physical and spiritual perspectives, I can say that the only thing we lack is patriotic leadership and committed leaders that can transform the country.Leaders today are not like those we had at independence. Before independence, Nigeria had wonderful leaders, like Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe, Enahoro and the rest of them. These leaders were committed; they had a mission to unite the country. Then, we didn't have religious intolerance and people put the country first. In today's leadership we are seeing corruption. That is why many people think Nigeria is going backward.The Church needs to pray for leaders. If we don't pray for them, they will be governed by the devil. The Church needs to take care of the spiritual needs of the society.
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