Nigerians have been told to always be objective in their assessment of those in the leadership positions and the citizens of the country.
A renowned cleric, Prophet Sam Olu Alo, also urged federal government to organise a sincere national open dialogue and reconciliatory sessions between the rulers and the ruled to end whatever differences they have.
Olu Alo, who is the Planter of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Adamimogo, Grace Of Mercy Prayer Mountain World-wide spoke while reacting to October 1 protests staged in some states on Tuesday.
His words, “Objectivity demands that if we complain about bad leaders, we must also ponder over the bad citizens.
“What we need in this country is a sincere national dialogue between the rulers and the ruled. This culture of self-righteousness that has permeated the entire citizenry must be critically and objectively examined. We must not always blame the leaders or the police alone. We are all corrupt except for an infinitesimal few”.
The respected Prophet in a statement by Toyin Anisulowo-led Adamimogo Media Support Group said it an act of disrespect and dishonour to one’s country to hold protests on her independence anniversary celebration day.
“We have no other country. We should train our children to respect their country, not to despise it.
“We are surprised that some Nigerians are planning to hold protests on our 64th independence anniversary. Protest on October 1 of any year in Nigeria amounts to a desecration of our value for freedom. It is tantamount to an assault on all the struggles of our founding fathers who fought tooth and nail to drive away the colonial master and usher in a much desired independence.
“It is not enough to contend that people in those advanced countries manifest patriotism because their leaders serve them loyally. Unlike us in Nigeria, their citizens gave everything to their countries. We must ask ourselves what we as citizens have done for our country. If we think our leaders are bad, have we looked at the citizens too?
“Though, there is severe hunger in the land but Nigeria is not aloof in this category. We are not an island. Neither did our hunger start yesterday. We are also angered by the pangs of hunger and starvation, but the way out of these challenges cannot be found in staging protests”.
Lamenting present economic situation in the country, he said, “The commercial motorcyclists, retirees and pensioners , I salute your patience and perseverance. All I know is that all shall be well. Anybody without the spirit of God that will say things are going well in Nigeria, but things are not actually going the way it should.
“I said to some commercial motorcyclists, mechanics jokingly, that this government has humbled everybody in Nigeria , even some people with four cars for them , now if they are to buy fifty thousand fuel for each of the cars and they will also buy that of the generator, then one will know things are not just easy. Everyone is trying to comply with present situation of the country,.
“People who don’t like driving with a lot of people in the car can no longer complain about such . This is serious , we pray that God will bring back the good times for us.
“I sympathized with you transporters , because people can no longer afford to travel like before because there is no money . And if this continues, it will be difficult to pay the daily returns to the owner of the vehicle” .
The Cleric who assured that good time will still come to the country however, appealed to the government to please not allow the present hard times last longer.
“Our father, President Bola Tinubu, those plans you have for us, please, let the execution starts now. People are grad feeling the heat of the present hardship in the country. So we beg you in the name of God, We don’t really understand, but what we have to do is to appeal , that your plans for us it will not be that most of us would have died before it came to reality. Hens are sweating.
“Those graduates without jobs , they are so many, that is a serious problem. I thank you for not allowing issues to come up. I also greet secondary, primary school. All will be well very soon, that I know.
“But I beg of you our governors, senators, state House of Assembly members , please, attend to our situation in this country. As it is raining, let us engage in agriculture. We have to learn lesson from our present economic situation. Even as prophet, I have farms in my home town . Let add the wisdom of God to it. God will have mercy on us”.
The Cleric said the people can do better by embracing dialogue with the government rather than embarking on protest in a state of anger can lead to unpleasant incidents.
He noted that many public and private properties and infrastructure were destroyed during August #EndBadGovernance protests saying a developing nation like ours cannot afford to continue inflicting itself such massive destruction.
“Yet we recognize the right to hold protests. We cannot do otherwise as a human rights group. The right to protest is sacrosanct and inalienable but that right must not be abused. The right of a protester stops where that of a non-protester begins”
He counselled the Federal Government to do more alleviate the present suffering Nigerians are going through and government officials should also avoid flamboyant living.
“We want to see genuine commitment to frugality in government’s activities. The cost of governance in Nigeria is too high and needs to be drastically reduced. Such reduction will leave more funds to provide for the teeming masses. A government that feels our pain will not mock us with daily festivities.
“If we must make sacrifices, we want to see what our leaders have sacrificed. Citizens cannot be working like elephants but eating like ants. Leaders must also lead by example”.
Olu Alo, however, urged Nigerians to respect their country and train their children to to do same saying we have no other country.
He congratulated President Bola Tinubu and Ekiti state governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji on the 64th independence anniversary of Nigeria and the 28th Ekiti creation anniversary celebrations respectively.
According to him, “It is by God’s grace that Nigeria is still moving all these years despite her challenges and there is hope for us that all will be we in Jesus’ name under the present administration.
“The same way, God has been helping us in Ekiti state since October 1,1996 when the state was created, we pray for governor BAO that God will use him to bring more development to the state”
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