The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has backed the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), declaring that any attack on Catholic bishops over their comments on the state of the nation amounts to an attack on the wider Christian community.
The PFN National President, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, made the position known on Sunday while ministering at the auditorium of his Sword of the Spirit Ministries in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Oke endorsed the recent remarks by the Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, following the meeting between the CBCN and President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.
During the meeting, the Catholic bishops reportedly expressed concern over the country’s security situation, warning that “Nigeria is bleeding” amid worsening insecurity and violence in several parts of the country.
Backing the bishops, Oke questioned whether the situation in several states could be ignored.
“Are we not bleeding in Benue, Southern Kaduna, Borno, Kwara and Oyo?” he asked.
The PFN president argued that speaking about insecurity and other challenges affecting Nigerians was a moral responsibility and should not be interpreted as a political act.
He rejected attempts to portray the Catholic bishops as speaking independently of other Christians, stressing that the Christian faith should remain united when issues affecting the lives and welfare of citizens are raised.
Oke maintained that the Church could not remain silent over killings, insecurity and violence across the country, saying religious leaders had a responsibility to speak on behalf of the people and demand action from those in authority.
He also criticised proposals to impose fines for preaching in commercial vehicles under amendments to road safety regulations.
The PFN president insisted that Christians would continue to preach the gospel, urging lawmakers to focus more on issues directly affecting the welfare and security of Nigerians.
His comments come amid an ongoing debate over the Catholic bishops’ assessment of Nigeria’s security situation and the Presidency’s response to their remarks.
While some Nigerians have defended the bishops’ right to speak on national issues, others have argued that religious leaders should avoid statements that could be interpreted as partisan.
The controversy has continued to generate reactions from religious leaders, political figures and other stakeholders over the role of faith-based organisations in governance and national affairs.
