Over the week, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins clocked 62. At the ceremony organized by the Directorate of Social Communications Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos in collaboration with Order of Knights of St Mulumba, Lagos, Archdiocese, Adewale bared his mind on life at 62, state of the nation and other sundry issues. He spoke with Adeola Ogunlade

How was life growing up?

Growing up, there were not too many television, radio and off course no social media. We had the chance to bond with our parents as we listened to stories from our elders and we learnt the intricacies of our local languages. One the other hand, social media is valuable now to today’s children, only we need to continue to ensure that we allow those children to imbibe the right values, direct, and motivate them to use social media in a positive way. When I was growing up, teachers were so much of respected. When your teacher was coming to your house, you would rather behave yourself because our teachers were both respected by the children and their parents. They were doing their work without being harassed. Teachers faced their jobs and they gave all the commitment needed.

 Are you fulfilled?

I thank God for this. I believe one has to continue to strive and make efforts to do better than what you did in the past. It will be difficult to say I have reached a point where I can now sit down and cross my legs. Though, I have no regrets. I don’t have anything that l can say that God has not done for me. If that is fulfillment, is okay but I will continue to strive for the best.

 Insecurity has become the bane of our education system in Nigeria, what is your take and possible solution?

Children today are afraid to go to school, especially in the north. The problem of insecurity has affected so many areas of people’s lives. Education is one of them. These children are being deprived of their right to education because the government has not taken care of the insecurity in our nation. If this continues without a remedy, you can imagine what this has done to a sizable number of our children. The problem of insecurity is largely affecting the children of the poor. There is a social problem we are creating for not addressing this issue. Government should take the issue of insecurity more seriously. One of the Presidential aides recently said that the government will roll out its strategy plans to tackle insecurity, we are waiting.

 Do you think dialogue is the answer to some of the problems of insecurity or the implementation confab report?

I believe that the fruit of that confab was not made public in the real sense of it; there was no formal adoption of that report. However, we know a lot of the content of the report and many people actually do think that the confab has the entire elements that are necessary to overcome the problem of today. It is important in my understanding that the fruits of the confab need to be evaluated and seen again in the light of the present situation in Nigeria. I would suggest that it is reviewed to meet the demands of today.

 Is Nigeria’s unity really negotiable?

I believe strongly that the unity of Nigeria is desirable and no matter our differences, we are better together. For Nigeria’s unity to be strengthened, some of the issues that call for Nigeria’s negotiation should be addressed frontally. People will continue to question the unity of the country if the reasons for their agitation are not addressed. It is the responsibility of our leaders to listen to the concerns of Nigerians who feel strongly that the unity of Nigeria is negotiable.

If there are questions about whatever was put together at some point in time to realize a particular purpose, there is the need to do the needful and look at the whole matter once again. So, to this extent, the unity of Nigeria is desirable because we are better together in my understanding.

Should the 1999 Constitution be reviewed or be rejected out rightly?

I do not have details of the content of the Constitution as lawyers do. However, a lot of people have identified so many loopholes in this constitution and so many have their doubts whether the current review of the Constitution will satisfy the wishes and yearnings of Nigerians.

Today, there is a call for restructuring of Nigeria. Do we have a National Assembly that is willing to ensure that that is included in the Constitution? There are issues regarding state police. Do we have a National Assembly that will objectively look at the matter?  So, there are so many issues that bother the average Nigeria and the most important of all is the willingness of the National Assembly to do what Nigerians are yearning for. We must continue to express our reservations on this matter. I recall that one of the campaign promises of the ruling party was to restructure Nigeria. Today, it is sad that it is a different story, a complete reversal of what they told Nigerians. That is why people are concern whether we need to do a review of the 1999 constitution

The resources available to the government are small; do you support government massive borrowing?

Government is doing a lot of borrowing and the National Assembly is working with the executive to borrow more.  Economists said borrowing is necessary but if it is used to provide infrastructure which can be measured, seen and there for generations to come. It is necessary that the government do more cleaning up of its own expenses. Even if we need to borrow, it will not be in range that we are currently borrowing. Borrowing is necessary for any economy but the problem in Nigeria is that we have an over blotted government structure and corruption within the system is mindboggling and that makes these borrowings not encouraging to many Nigerians.

Our government is rather expensive. The Senate and House of Representatives are gulping so much money and the executive itself is gulping so much with all the different kinds of agencies and offices that are duplicated across the line.

How can the church assist the state in ensuring the stability of the nation?

What is the church? It is the moral authority that uses words of God to interface with its faithful. The word of God is the basis for our interaction. The church will continue to conscientise the faithful of our nation on the values necessary for common good. I think that if the common good is uppermost in the hearts of the people, most of the problems we are faced with will not be there. All the wastage and corruption will not be there and the welfare of the people will be uppermost in the hearts of men. The church will ensure that their faithful adhere to values that will aid common good. Our problem will be much less if the people adhere to the teaching of the word of God being taught in their churches.

 CAN President recently admonish its members to defend themselves when attacked?

In principle, anyone attacked has the right to defend him or herself. Every human being has the right to defend themselves if is under attack. However, the practice of that needs to be examined before it is put to use. I hope that as people defend themselves, they must ensure they are not the aggressors. We can defend ourselves with any means available. This is the general moral principle.

Is there a spiritual dimension to the problem of Nigeria?

I guess when there is chaos or disharmony; devil cannot be far away from there. With this, we can say the God we worship is so powerful if we are ready to play our part. We live by faith and live by the principles God demands. The devil will not have the power to create chaos in Nigeria if Muslims and Christians are sticking to the teachings of their faith. They are to be blamed for our woes

By Sampson Unamka

The Youth Christian Association (YCA), last Sunday installed Professor Amos Ifeolu Akinwande and Mr Felix Ilesanmi Fadayomi as new patrons of the Association.

The installation ceremony which took place at the Ebenezer Praying Band (C & S) Church, Aguda-Surulere had a good number of its members in attendance.

The State President, YCA, Chief Mrs Funke Laniyan after her brief address, decorated the new patrons with a medallion.

“On behalf of the State Council of YCA Lagos, I hereby install you as a Patron of the Association to the glory of God in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  It is your duty to guide and support the Association all the time in achieving the set objectives. May God help you,” Laniyan said while decorating the new patrons.

Prof. Amos Ifeolu Akinwande who became the latest YCA patron was born on June 21, 1942, in Ondo South West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. He was educated at Imade College, Owo for his West African School Certificate and Loyal College, Ibadan for his Higher School Certificate.

 

The Presiding Archbishop of Calvary Kingdom Church (CKC), Lagos and the Chairman, State Inauguration Committee, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Joseph Ojo, who celebrated his 72nd birthday recently, took time out to talk with Adeola Ogunlade about the state of nation, challenges of governance and insecurity in Nigeria. Excerpts:

How is life at 72?

Life at 72 is a new experience. I’m grateful to God that he kept me alive, strong, healthy, at the age of 72. I think life at 72 is a life of continuous gratitude to God, because it’s not everybody that lives that long; not because they sinned or did one thing or the other, but for us, we are just enjoying the grace of God.

When you look back at the Nigeria of then and that of now, what difference do you see?

The difference is too much. The gap is not bridgeable; you cannot bridge the gap between then and now. I think maybe it’s the inability of our leaders to begin to develop with the increase of population. When we had independence in 1960, Nigeria’s population was less than 50million (about 46/48 it was then). But, now we are talking about 200 million plus. If they have been developing gradually as the population exploded,  I’m sure we wouldn’t be in the state we are in now.  Those days, roads were done by reputable construction companies. Some of the roads in Edo State where I come from, were done in 1975 during Gowon and Ogbemudia’s regime – the roads are still motorable with little or no patches. But now, they do roads; three years it’s been washed away because of the level of greed and corruption.

I think Nigeria has not done too well in infrastructure because the leaders lack the vision. They are so selfish – they want to en masse wealth for themselves and their family, which they will regret when they get to wherever they are going; whether heaven or hell. We really cannot compare it. I remember in 1983, I went to the U.S. for school – my return ticket was N1500 and naira was stronger than the U.S. Dollar. My first flight from Benin to Lagos was 15 naira. So, we can’t compare it because we are in a place (world) we never envisage. We thought things would be better. I bought a brand new Volkswagen car N1700, so you can’t imagine it.

But there is this argument that a larger percentage of people in your generation who enjoyed the good old days are also responsible for the decay in the system. What is your take on that?

I wouldn’t argue with the people of that school of thought because the majority like you said (larger percent) of these people don’t know God. Those who know God have the fear of God. Most of the leaders we have today are people who don’t know God; yes some have coloration of religion, but religion is not the same thing as the knowledge of God. You can’t know God and not fear him – you can’t know God and fail to realise that you are a servant; whether in the church or in the secular leadership – we are all servants of the most high God. We are to serve the people; it’s just that we have many of the leaders today, both church and secular, who don’t fear God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Those days, even people who didn’t go to church knew God – they fear God, they pray to God, but today the difference is that many of them don’t know God. They are just pursuing their selfish ends – those who know God are strong and are still doing exploits.

Can you tell us the assignment given to you by the PFN leadership?

My responsibility and assignment given to me by the PFN as the chairman for the State Inauguration Committee. Like I told you a few days back is that, all the states in the country, including Abuja; when the tenure of the excos expire, new elections are done,  I’m the one who go and swear them in and also sign their certificate – the instrument of office that validates; without it, any election or handover is nullified. And by God’s grace, God has given me knowledge to do it to my own understanding.; I  handled that position for eight (8) years. That was the position I held throughout Omobude presidency and it’s because the new president knew I did a credible job being the deputy president then, he elected to have me handle it again.

The problem of insecurity in Nigeria is becoming an over- flogged issue; what do you think the government should do differently at this time?

I think the government is overwhelmed because without fear or favour, this government wanted to wrest powers by all means possible from Jonathan’s administration. All we need now is a government that is courageous to fight insecurity.