Amid insecurity ravaging Nigeria, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has revealed that rising incidents of kidnapping, militancy and killings during his tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom State prompted him to introduce monthly prayers session as part of efforts to confront the security challenges.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Akpabio made the disclosure on Sunday during an Inter-Denominational Church Service held at the National Christian Centre in Abuja to mark this year’s Democracy Day celebration.
Reflecting on his years as governor, the Senate President said he often wondered how much worse the situation could have been without sustained prayers, urging Nigerians not to lose hope despite the country’s current security concerns.
“When I had the opportunity to serve as governor about 19 years ago, I started monthly prayers. I used to ask myself a question whenever there was militancy, kidnapping and killing. I would say, what if we were not praying?” he said.
Drawing parallels with the nation’s present security situation, Akpabio called on Nigerians to continue praying for the country and for those behind acts of violence to be exposed.
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“We must continue praying so that the evil doers and their sponsors shall be exposed. If they are in government, they shall be exposed. If they are outside government, they shall be exposed,” he stated.
The Senate President acknowledged the pain and trauma caused by insecurity across the country, particularly kidnappings and attacks on communities, noting that many families continue to suffer uncertainty over the fate of their loved ones.
Despite the challenges, he expressed confidence that Nigeria would overcome its current difficulties, pointing to the country’s resilience through periods of political instability, economic hardship, insurgency and public health crises.
“We have survived political upheavals and economic turbulence. We will survive insurgencies. We have survived pandemics like Ebola and COVID-19. Yet here we stand, 27 years of democratic governance and constitutional order,” he said.
Akpabio also assured Nigerians that the administration of President Bola Tinubu remains committed to tackling insecurity, restoring peace and securing the release of citizens held in captivity.
According to him, government efforts, combined with prayers and collective perseverance, would eventually bring an end to the country’s security challenges and deliver a safer future for all Nigerians.
