The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has called for a new constitution, raising concerns over what it described as an imbalance in the country’s legal framework.
National President of the PFN, Francis Wale Oke, who spoke during the Calvary Grace International College of Bishops (CGCOB) ministers’ empowerment conference in Lagos State, yesterday, said the current Nigeria’s Constitution fails to reflect the country’s religious balance, noting that Christians make up slightly over 50 per cent of the population, with dominance in the southern region and a strong presence across parts of the North.
He said that the Constitution contains extensive references to Sharia and Islamic provisions without corresponding recognition of Christianity, insisting that such imbalance undermines national inclusiveness and fairness.
The PFN president maintained that Nigeria must either adopt a constitution that accommodates all religions equally or remove religious references, stressing that religion should remain a private matter while the state focuses only on regulation to prevent violence.
Oke also linked the country’s insecurity to religious extremism, alleging that many violent attacks are carried out under the guise of religion.
He referenced groups, such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, alongside bandits and other armed groups, as drivers of the violence.
He, therefore, urged the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, to take stronger action in addressing the situation, urging religious leaders to also speak out against violence and rein in those perpetrating attacks in the name of faith.
The cleric, who further drew attention to persistent killings in Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Borno states, describing the incidents as troubling and raising concerns over their impact on affected communities, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intensify efforts to address insecurity in the country.
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