Baptist Convention seeks prayers over Boko Haram
THE need to check threats to property and lives through the cooperation of the Federal Government, states and individuals was stressed yesterday as the Oyo State government launched its Security Trust Fund.
Former Governor of Lagos State and Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Ahmed Bola Tinubu, lamented inadequate budget provision for state governments, noting that effective security was key to the nation’s growth and development.
He said: “The time could not have been more perfect given the security in the state and nationwide. Indeed, the rapidly deteriorating security situation across the country needs to be confronted and prevented. A fund like this will equip the security forces to confront the challenge and equip the Police Force with armoured vehicles. It will enhance security control and ensure that water and land security is in place.
“The Nigerian Constitution mandates governors as the chief security officers of their states, but unfortunately, the Federal Government has been unable to fund the constitutional mandate of the states to provide effective security. States have had to fund from their scarce resources effective policing in their states.”
Besides, the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) yesterday described the Boko Haram menace as a spiritual one that must be tackled with prayers.
The NBC at a media briefing in Ibadan said the menace had been difficult to tackle because it was being viewed as a physical phenomenon.
The Chairman, National Working Committee of the convention, Johnson Adeleke who led other members to address reporters on the church all-night prayer programme billed for tonight, said the only sure way of ending the Boko Haram insurgency was for all Nigerians to see it in the context of spirituality and confront it headlong with fervent prayers.
