Trust God, Not Leaders, Anglican Synod Tells Nigerians

The Anglican Diocese of Kaduna has urged Nigerians to place their trust in God rather than political leaders and human institutions, citing the nation’s persistent insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment and governance challenges.

The Archbishop of Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province and Bishop of Kaduna Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Timothy Yahaya, made the call yesterday during the Synod Thanksgiving Service held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Kakuri, Kaduna South local government area.

The archbishop said the central message of this year’s Synod was that true hope and confidence should be placed in God, who never fails, rather than in human beings and institutions that often disappoint.

According to him, Nigerians have over the years relied heavily on leaders and institutions that have repeatedly fallen short of expectations.

“We have relied on men as leaders and they have failed us. We have relied on them for security and they are not securing the nation. We have relied on certificates, yet many graduates remain unemployed,” he said.

He, however, urged Nigerians not to despair, stressing that while human beings may fail, God remains faithful and dependable in all circumstances.

The Synod also criticised the National Assembly for what it described as its inability to effectively discharge its constitutional oversight responsibilities over the executive arm of government.

The cleric noted that democracy can only thrive when the legislature, executive and judiciary operate independently and hold one another accountable in line with the principles of separation of powers.

On electoral matters, Yahaya expressed concern over the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying many Nigerians were yet to regain confidence in the electoral body following controversies surrounding previous elections.

He called on the INEC chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to ensure that future elections are free, fair and credible.

The Archbishop also raised concerns over reported challenges affecting the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process, warning against any action capable of disenfranchising eligible voters.

According to him, Nigerians expect transparency, accountability and efficiency from the electoral umpire considering the enormous resources committed to the conduct of elections.

He therefore urged governments at all levels to prioritise policies and programmes aimed at addressing the plight of vulnerable children and securing their future.

The Archbishop also faulted the increasing focus on political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying elected leaders should concentrate on tackling the country’s pressing socio-economic and security challenges rather than pursuing personal political ambitions.

He said Nigerians expect those in authority to focus on governance and the delivery of democratic dividends before engaging in campaigns and political realignments for future elections.