24th May, 2013
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, has called on the Federal Government to set up machinery for compensating the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency across the nation.
PFN, at a news conference on the state of the nation held at Ajao Estate area of Lagos, southwest Nigeria, on Thursday lamented that a number of families had been displaced, with many people losing their lives, homes and livelihood.
“It is important that these unfortunate ones are compensated and the houses and buildings that belong to religious institutions, schools, individuals and corporate bodies be rebuilt and restored to their owners, who have suffered unnecessarily following the state of insecurity in their places of abode,” said Dr. Felix Omobude, National President, PFN.
Omobude enjoined Christians in the country to remain peaceful while being alert and vigilant, adding that they should bring to the attention of the government and the leadership of PFN suspicious activities in their domains that might endanger peace.
“They should continue to hold on to the values of our faith, in spite of the losses and provocation they might have suffered. PFN encourages all Nigerians to maintain an attitude of prayer for the country so that peace and prosperity might be the portion of the nation and the people,” he said.
He further said PFN was concerned and disturbed about the alarming rise of corruption at all levels of governance, saying it is regrettable that corruption seem to have permeated every facets of life.
“PFN is concerned that the government is not doing enough to stem this tide. We restate our call to government at all levels to stand up and be counted in this fight against the cancerous monster of corruption.
“The impression that nothing is being done should be urgently addressed. All relevant law enforcement agencies, anti-corruption bodies, the judiciary and even the media, have a role to play in supporting the drive by religious institutions for corruption to be rooted out.
“There is need for a more definitive and punitive stance on the issue of corruption, so that Nigeria can raise its head again as a land of integrity and good value, and not a place where corruption has become a way of life,” he stated.
He said the PFN supported President Goodluck Jonathan in declaring state of emergency in three northern states, urging him to work with the National Assembly to follow through on all provisions pertaining to the process as enunciated by the constitution.
According to Omobude, the declaration of state of emergency in the affected states had become inevitable.
“While we support the military operation to flush out the terrorists from their strongholds, PFN cautions that the fight against Boko Haram and other criminal elements should be done under the ambits of the law and respect for fundamental human rights so that the rights of innocent Nigerians who live in that part of the country are not unnecessarily infringed upon.
“It is important that the exercise is conducted with clinical precision to avoid incidents of collateral damage and minimal disruption of normal life. Nigerians are enjoined to support the Federal Government and the military at this time to ensure that these criminal elements are put in their place,” he stated.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga