The National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Archbishop Francis Wale Oke, has congratulated Nigerians on the country’s 66th Independence anniversary, urging citizens to use the occasion to reflect deeply and honestly on the state of the nation.
In an Independence Day message issued by the Media Bureau of the PFN, Oke said the anniversary was not only a time for celebration and thanksgiving but also an opportunity to assess Nigeria’s progress and confront the challenges threatening its development. He acknowledged the progress recorded over the past 66 years while stressing that the country’s difficulties could no longer be ignored.
The PFN president identified peace and security as critical foundations for national development, calling on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to eliminate banditry and terrorism. He urged authorities to remove criminals from forests, bring terrorists, bandits and their financiers to justice, and strengthen measures to protect the lives of Nigerians across the country.
Oke also expressed concern over the worsening economic situation, urging the Federal and State Governments to do more to improve the welfare of citizens. He said Nigeria’s abundant human and natural resources should be deployed for the benefit of the wider population, rather than a limited elite, while calling for laws and policies that would encourage businesses, industrialisation, technological development and improved living standards.
On corruption, the PFN president described it as a major threat to democracy, accountability and development. He called on governments at the federal, state and local levels to intensify the fight against corruption, arguing that the practice has drained public resources, deepened inequality, weakened public trust and undermined justice.
Oke further raised concern over the production and transportation of illicit drugs through Nigeria, particularly the danger posed to young people. He called for stronger efforts to curb the drug trade and protect the younger generation, which he described as central to the country’s future.
The PFN president also appealed to Nigerians across ethnic, religious and social divides to unite in building a peaceful and just nation. He expressed optimism that Nigeria could become great again, but said this would require citizens to rededicate themselves to God and the ideals of the nation while collectively taking responsibility for its progress. He concluded by wishing Nigerians a happy Independence Day and praying for God’s blessings upon the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
