9th August, 2010
Christian youths under the aegis of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), have called for improved security in the country.
President, PFN, Lagos State wing, Apostle Mike Akinyoade, made this call during a peaceful march to the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, South West Nigeria. The peaceful march was tagged Jubilee Prayer Rally.
Akinyoade said the rally was part of the programme outlined to mark Nigeria’s 50th Independence anniversary and that the youth felt they should not waste further time to make their intention known, hence the need for the exercise.
He said that the national theme of the rally was Re-inventing our National Dream, positing that the Lagos State wing of the association had come up with its own subtitle as Re-inventing Lagos, Re-inventing Nigeria.
The youth president requested President Goodluck Jonathan to take the issue of the improvement of the security of lives and properties of people as priority.
He said that the issue of kidnapping in some Eastern and South-South states was of great concern and advised that the security agencies and forces should be strengthened for better performance.
He also urged the president to take a stand against religious crisis and stressed the need to intensify efforts in revitalising the fight against corruption so as to achieve his government’s aim of delivering credible free and fair elections in 2011.
Responding on behalf of the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Alhaji Babatunde Balogun, commended the peaceful rally staged by the group and assured that he would convey all their recommendations to the governor.
He assured them that the state government would not relent in its effort at ensuring a peaceful and conducive sphere for youths, especially in its effort at making sure youth unemployment was eradicated in the state.
Special Assistant to the Governor on Christian Religious Matters, Rev. Sam Ogedengbe, said government would not let them down as far as provision of affordable education and conducive environment for learning and mass job creation for school leavers were concerned.