It isn't late to reorder Nigeria, says Gowon

The former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon has said that an enduring way to tackle Nigeria's problems is to reorder the polity.

Gowon, who spoke Sunday during the first session of the 11th Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Owo, held at Saint Andrew's Anglican Church, Uso in Owo Local Council of Ondo State, alongside Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, stated that it was not late to redefine and reorder the country, as current occurrences in the nation call for sober reflections.

'What is happening in our country today calls for sober reflection, as we entreat God on behalf of our nation,' he said.

'I want to believe that in spite of the gloomy situation made manifest by the escalating security and political challenges in our nation, the church in Nigeria, given its spiritual and human resources, occupies a strategic position to trigger a process aimed at re-making and enforcing and reinforcing the blessings of jubilee. It is not late to redefine and reorder Nigeria.'

Noting that the Jubilee year 2010 was a year of liberty and restoration for the country, he warned that the nation 'must not lose sight of one major fact, which is that the battle is usually fiercest in the years closest to or immediately after jubilee.'

Gowon stated that whenever a nation approaches her jubilee, all hell would seem to be let loose, as the devil would orchestrate events and issues that would create confusion, uncertainty, fear and unrest

Meanwhile, he explained that the Festival of African Arts and Culture (FESTAC), which took place in 1977, and was initiated by his administration, was neither to showcase idols nor promote idol worshiping in the country and should not be an excuse for the nation's malaise. According to him, it was to showcase the rich cultural potential of the country and the entire black race.

Gowon, who is the chairman of the Bible Society of Nigeria, added that the programme was planned to be declared open with prayers by both Christian and Muslim clerics, but before the commencement of the festival, his administration had been toppled and he was in exile when the event held.

However, he maintained that hope was not lost for the nation, as the Nigeria Praise programme, which he initiated in 1996, offers continuous prayers for unity, peace and progress of the country. With the theme of the synod as, 'Blessings of the Jubilee,' Gowon re-affirmed the group's commitment to praying against the problems confronting the country.

He appealed to Nigerians to always support President Goodluck Jonathan's administration in its effort at stabilising the nation's economy and restoring peace for national development. He also lauded Mimiko's administration for the distribution of dividends of democracy to the people of the state.