At 64, Nigeria Still Crawling Like A Baby -Archbishop Ndukuba

The Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of all Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Revd Henry Ndukuba, has lamented that Nigeria at 64 is still crawling as a baby.

He said, “Those born 64 years ago are now grand fathers and grand mothers “.

Delivering his sermon at a special Eucharistic Service to pray for and celebrate Nigeria’s Independence Day, the Primate called on Nigerians to intercede for the country so that her potentials for greatness should be birthed.

Drawing his homily from Isaiah 37 reading from verse 1 where King Hezekiah was lamenting the plight of the people of Israel said in verses 2 and 3 thus:

“When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord. 2 He sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 3 They told him, “This is what Hezekiah says: This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the moment of birth and there is no strength to deliver them.”

Primate Ndukuba noted that Nigeria had great wealth but those in charge were holding it to themselves not making any appreciable impact on the welfare of the people.

“At the age of 64 Nigerians should be rejoicing but what is happening now is the people mobilizing to protest against bad governance. ”
Corruption, he noted had mitigated against developmental growth of the country.

This he said should not be so for a country blessed with so much abundance of wealth.

The Primate said Nigerians should pray for visionary leadership like Late General Murtala Muhammed, Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan to mention but a few

He said these leaders had great plans for Nigeria but never saw them come to fruition.

He recalled how Rwanda coming out of pogrom war had turned things around for the better in the country.

The government in Rwanda he said “is being run by young men below 40 years and has many women in every sector of governance ”

The Primate said however he was optimistic that tomorrow would be better for Nigeria “as God will not abandon His own..”.

The old National Anthem at independence now adopted as current one was sang by the congregation with emotion at the beginning and ending of the service.