C&S unveils plan for centenary celebration, proposes solution to Nigeria’s problems
President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh and Prelate of Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Aladura David Bob-Manuel (Orimolade IX).
Published By: Michael Adesina
Michael Adeshina
The Prelate of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim (Worldwide), Dr. David Bob-Manuel, also affectionately referred to as Baba Aladura, has issued a clarion call to leaders at various echelons of government to promptly address the pressing demands of Nigerian youths for a more effective and responsive governance.
Dr. Bob-Manuel made this impassioned plea on Saturday during a media conference convened to unveil the Cherubim and Seraphim Church’s plans, logo, theme, and song for the church’s forthcoming centenary celebration.
Speaking on the myriad challenges besetting the nation, Dr. Bob-Manuel emphasized the imperative need for facilitating critical and realistic dialogue with the youths to prevent their agitations for a better life from degenerating into a total breakdown of law and order, anarchy, chaos, and bloodletting.
The “Baba Aladura” noted that the recent #EndBadGovernance protest was a manifestation of Nigerians’ collective anger and frustration stemming from economic hardship.
Dr. Bob-Manuel further observed that Nigeria, a nation blessed with immense diversity and resilience, is currently grappling with a socio-economic crisis, characterized by widespread poverty, unemployment, and a high cost of living, which has eroded the purchasing power of the masses and fueled economic hardship and anxiety.
He added that the extravagance of public office holders has further exacerbated public discontent, leading to protests that have rocked various parts of the country.
The C&S leader emphasized that protests, when conducted within the ambit of the law, are a vital component of a healthy democracy, serving as an expression of the people’s discontent against systemic corruption, economic hardship, and socio-political differences.
He urged the government to address the grievances of the youths, including providing subsidized farming materials, promoting industrialization, and creating self-sustaining agrobusinesses in the six geopolitical zones.
The words of Dr. Bob-Manuel on protests and the challenges facing Nigeria.
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Nigeria is a nation rich in diversity and resilience, but presently facing socio-economic crisis. Millions of families are living under abject poverty, the burgeoning youth are grappling with unemployment and are labelled as being lazy. There is incredibly high cost of living, Naira has depreciated grossly thereby eroding the purchasing power and fuelling economic hardship and anxiety. Adding to the public discontent is the extravagance of public office holders. Indeed, millions of Nigerians are hungry and angry, hopes have dwindled and anger is ignited. This had necessitated the protests which rock bustling metropolis and cities. Notably, protests when conducted within the ambit of the Law, are the life blood of a healthy democracy. It is the expression of the people’s discontent against systemic corruption within various levels of Government which has eroded public trust, worsened economic hardship and socio-political differences. This fundamental right of protest is guaranteed by the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and it is predicated on a delicate equilibrium: balancing the freedom of expression against the rights of others to freedom of movement. Due to the communication gap and differences between the Government and the governed, there was massive protest in various parts of the country some few weeks ago. The economy of the country was grounded to a halt. May I humbly call on various levels of Government to facilitate critical and realistic dialogue before the situation degenerates or snowballs into total breakdown of law and order, reign of anarchy, chaos and bloodletting. Government should address frontally all issues the youths were bitterly complaining of. It has undeniable responsibility to provide subsidized farming materials, promote industrialization and create self-sustaining agrobusiness in the six-geopolitical zones. Almighty God has blessed our country Nigeria. We need to curtail the rate of our importation and be refining all our products: be it crude oil, cocoa etc and be exporting finished goods. This would promote job opportunities to the teeming youths, enhance the value of the currency and promote general developmental projects in the country. It is instructive to note that Nigeria is a great country blessed with natural and intellectual resources. Nigerians are creative, intelligent and hardworking people. We have great Nigerians in all fields of human endeavours doing great things. There is no part of the world you will not find Nigerians trailing the blaze. Since Nigeria is indeed a great country, let us affirm that greatness not only in words, but in action. Let us jointly harness these natural and intellectual resources to make Nigeria very great. By HIS grace and mercies, it will be greater in JESUS name.
Dr. Bob-Manuel also spoke on the issue of insecurity, urging the government to empower security agencies to combat crime effectively. He advocated for the deployment of modern technologies to fight criminality and the training and re-training of police officers on the use and abuse of firearms.
In conclusion, the Baba Aladura spoke about the forthcoming Centenary Celebration of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, scheduled for September 9th, 2025, and invited the global community to participate in the momentous occasion.
Meanwhile, the President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, who was also present at the media event, emphasized the need for leaders to speak truth to power, ensuring governance is just and beneficial for the majority.
He underscored the importance of using the word of God to combat deceit, oppression, and troubles, and to guide governance towards the greater good.
Below were the words of the CAN president at the media event.
“We have a lot of challenges today, but what we must take away from this particular celebration is the founding vision of the founder of this ministry. The founding vision was to come out with the power of the gospel to reduce the level of wickedness in society. We see wickedness manifesting in various ways in modern times, and the church will go back to the same tool that we have, which is the truth.
“There is nothing like bold truth or new truth. Truth is truth, and leaders must go back to pick the truth and address whatever challenge we have now and confront it with the Lord of creation. We must confront all the lies, all the oppression, all the troubles that we have for the word of truth and the word of God. And so we have to go back again to look at how the people of God were able to speak out in truth against all forms of people and to speak truth to power and to make sure that governance is done the right way. In our own time, we must rise with courage and speak truth to power and give guidance to the people in governance. This is so that we can actually have a very happy country where everyone is committed to doing what is right for the generality of the people and for the interests of the poor masses.”
