Cleric seeks total war against corruption, intercessory prayers

THE Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South-West and President, Christian Welfare Initiative, Archbishop Magnus Atilade, has called on the incoming government of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to look into the possibility of the merger of the upper and the lower legislative houses with a view to reducing the high cost of administration in the country.

Atilade, while addressing the media at the Christian Welfare Initiative Secretariat, Surulere over the weekend, lamented the high cost of administration in the country, saying that if the issue was not addressed succinctly, the expectation of having a new Nigeria might be an illusion.

The cleric, who decried the attraction of the ‘packages’ of senators and members of the House of Representatives who fix their emoluments themselves, said the nation has not been practising true federalism like the United States (U.S.) whose lawmakers only receive sitting allowance, adding that if truly Nigeria wants to grow and get out of doldrums, she should completely replicate here every aspect of the U.S. government policies and style of administration it purports to be emulating.

Atilade, who also called for 100 days of intercessory prayers by every patriotic Nigerian with a view to having a new Nigeria, said with what God did in the last violence-free election through prayers, He would do it again, more so as the call was based on spiritual revelation.

The cleric, who called for political as well as religious power balance in the four top constitutional positions which include President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief Justice of Federation, urged the government to seriously look into the area of health by expanding space for medical care to include complementary alternatives and herbal medicine practice with relevant council to regulate practice and training of practitioners and training institutions.

He said: “Buhari has promised up to wipe out corruption that has defaced the nation and if sincerely he meant this, should not fail to take the bull by the horn and not mind whose ox is gored in the process.

“Apart from the unnecessary and avoidable sufferings Nigerians have been exposed to by past corrupt and very wicked politicians in a very blessed nation like ours, the terrible blow these gullible politicians have dealt to the image of this country cannot be quantified.