Abuja: The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has affirmed that Nigeria will remain a united and indivisible nation, committed to overcoming its challenges. She made this statement during a thanksgiving service for the investiture and presentation of Most Rev. Sunday Onuoha as Archbishop on Special Duties.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event took place at the Methodist Unity Cathedral in Abuja, where Mrs. Tinubu was represented by Bishop Stephen Adegbite, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC). In her address, Mrs. Tinubu emphasized that the nation’s future is in God’s hands and urged Nigerians to continue praying for the country, the Church, and divine guidance.
Mrs. Tinubu highlighted that Nigeria welcomes international assistance but will not be intimidated or become a disgraceful nation. She assured the congregation, “Nigeria will not disintegrate. Nigeria will remain one indivisible entity. God will be with Nigeria.” She also expressed her hope for a peaceful and joyous Christmas celebration and conveyed her best wishes to Archbishop Onuoha in his new role.
Echoing similar sentiments, Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, stressed the need for foreign partnership to address Nigeria’s security challenges. He noted that the government is open to collaborating with international allies to enhance security without compromising national sovereignty. Kalu also underscored the role of stakeholders, including the Church, in promoting peace and unity.
Kalu commended Archbishop Onuoha for his dedication to peacebuilding and his efforts to bridge the gap between the state and faith communities. He remarked, “The man that was decorated as Archbishop today has shown that being in the church does not mean turning your back to the state.”
In an interview, Archbishop Onuoha highlighted the necessity of assistance from various quarters to tackle Nigeria’s problems, particularly insecurity. He stated, “We need help. If somebody thinks we don’t need help, that person is in denial.” Onuoha called for collective efforts to address the country’s issues and urged an end to the blame game and demonisation, stressing the importance of unity in overcoming challenges.
Archbishop Onuoha pledged to collaborate with the Church and other stakeholders to foster peace and unity across Nigeria.