The Arewa community in Delta State has lamented the deteriorating living conditions across the country and urged the Federal Government to take urgent measures to prevent what he described as a looming national collapse.

Speaking with The Guardian on Thursday in Asaba, Deputy Secretary of the Arewa Communities in Delta State and Senior Special Assistant to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Hausa/Fulani Affairs, Hon. Mukhtar Usman, said the current economic realities had become unbearable for ordinary Nigerians.

To this end, he urged President Bola Tinubu to intensify efforts at rescuing Nigeria from worsening economic hardship and insecurity, warning that the country was “going deep down the valley” amid rising suffering among citizens.

Usman stressed that beyond economic reforms, Nigeria’s leaders must embrace sincerity, accountability and the fear of God if the nation must overcome its numerous challenges, particularly insecurity and persistent killings in different parts of the country.

“The killings in Nigeria will not stop until our leaders surrender themselves to God and seek His forgiveness. God is merciful and He will have mercy on us if we are sincere,” he stated.

Usman maintained that Nigerians deserved honest leadership, insisting that political leaders should “tell Nigerians the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth” rather than deceive the people with promises that fail to address their daily struggles.

He argued that prayers alone would not solve the nation’s problems if leaders and citizens continued to engage in wrongdoing and insincerity.

“You cannot deceive God. If you are doing evil and expect God to answer your prayers, it will not happen. God looks into the mind of every person. If we do not change, nothing will change for us,” he added.

The Arewa leader also appealed to Nigerians across religious and ethnic divides to unite in prayers for the country and its leaders, saying constant condemnation of leaders without constructive support could further worsen the situation.

He called on Muslims, Christians and adherents of traditional religions to seek divine intervention for Nigeria, expressing hope that God would guide leaders towards policies capable of restoring peace, economic stability and national unity.