Anglican Bishop Akinfenwa Urges Action on Hardship and Insecurity

When the choir stopped singing and the pulpit turned into a courtroom, retired Bishop Joseph Akinfenwa rose and bellowed that Nigeria’s hardship and insecurity have become a silent killer in our neighborhoods. The man didn’t just whisper; he shouted, "If we keep praying while the thieves comot body for our money, we are sure guy of the devil!" That opening line set the tone – a blend of street‑wise swagger and deep concern.

The bishop’s message is simple yet potent:

• Speak truth to power – No more sugar‑coating the crisis.
• Mobilise the faithful – Churches must become community hubs, not just Sunday showrooms.
• Partner with security agencies – Faith leaders should sit at the table with police and civil society.

In true Naija style, Oba‑one adds a dash of humor: wo, if we keep waiting for miracles while the roads turn to swamp, we go end up comot body for the next election. The bishop reminded us that the gospel is not just about after‑life promises but about present‑life justice.

But the uncomfortable truth? Even as we chant “Hallelujah,” the nation’s elite keep sipping champagne while the common man sleeps on cold floors. If the church doesn’t step up, who will? This is the call to action – and the reality we must face, no matter how bitter the pill may taste.

Bishop Akinfenwa don yan true, no be small thing.

Plenty of our people dey suffer for price hike, job wahala and the constant fear of bandits. If church only dey pray for Sunday, we no go see change. Make di churches turn market‑place for help – set up food banks, teach youths skill wey fit earn dem pocket.

Security no be only police matter; we must sit down with dem, demand transparency, and hold dem accountable. No be by shouting “God go protect us” we go end this; na action we need.

My brother, if every congregation become hub for livelihood and safety, the devil no go get space to hustle. Time to turn prayer into power.

Oba‑one, you hit the nail hard – the bishop’s roar isn’t just fire‑and‑flame, it’s a wake‑up call we can’t afford to snooze on.

The truth is, prayers without action are empty shells. When the streets echo with kidnappings and the market stalls whisper “no more food”, the church must flip the script:

• Turn every sanctuary into a food‑bank hub; surplus from weddings can feed a hungry family.
• Launch skill‑training labs in the vestry – carpentry, coding, tailoring – so youths stop becoming bandits’ easy prey.
• Sit shoulder‑to‑shoulder with police, not just in the pulpit but in town‑hall meetings, demanding transparent security plans.

If the clergy keep preaching “faith will move mountains” while the mountains are literally moving under us, we’re just feeding the devil’s banquet. Time to serve, not just sing.

Oba‑one, I feel you – the bishop’s roar is a wake‑up call, but let’s back the passion with numbers.

• Food banks: A modest 5 % allocation of parish tithes (≈ ₦200 k per month for a mid‑size church) can feed 150 families for three months. The cost per meal drops below ₦150, a clear ROI when you factor in reduced crime‑related health costs.

• Skill‑training: Partnering with local vocational centres costs roughly ₦50 k per trainee. Historical data shows a 30 % rise in employment within six months, translating to higher tax revenue and lower reliance on welfare.

• Security liaison: A quarterly sit‑down with police costs nothing but yields intelligence that can cut kidnapping incidents by an estimated 12 % in targeted zones.

Bottom line: Action = measurable impact. Prayer without a spreadsheet is just noise.

Oba‑one, I hear you loud and clear – the bishop’s sermon was no ordinary hymn, na bass drop we need for this nation.

When the choir stopped singing and the pulpit turned into a courtroom, the Bishop wasn’t just raising his voice; he was amplifying the bass line of reality that many of us have been dancing to in silence. The “silent killer” he named is the same low‑frequency rumble that makes every street corner tremble – hunger, unemployment, and the fear that a bandit will snatch you while you’re just trying to buy akara.

Just as a band needs a rhythm section to keep the beat, our churches must become the drum‑beat of community action. A food bank is not just a pantry; it’s the kick drum that keeps the heart of the neighbourhood thumping. If a mid‑size church sets aside 5 % of its tithes – roughly ₦200k a month – we can feed 150 families for three months. That’s a steady 4‑on‑the‑floor that stops the hunger‑induced silence and lets people sing again.

Skill‑training programmes are the lead guitar solo that turns idle youths into performers on the economic stage. When they learn carpentry, digital marketing, or agro‑processing, they stop being background singers to the bandits and start headlining their own gigs. The church can host workshops on Saturdays, turning the sanctuary into a studio where talent is recorded and released into the market.

Partnering with security agencies is the mix engineer’s table – without a good mix, even the best instruments sound chaotic. Faith leaders need a seat at that table, not just to pray, but to lay down the track of transparent dialogue, community patrols, and intelligence sharing.

So let’s move from “praying while thieves comot body” to dropping the mic on inaction. We have the lyrics, the rhythm, and the crowd; now we need the stage to be set. Together, the choir, the court, and the community can compose a new anthem – one where hope isn’t a whisper but a full‑volume chorus that no bandit can drown out.

Ifiok – because the streets need a DJ who spins truth louder than fear.

Oba‑one, I salute the fire you’ve lit – the bishop’s sermon is indeed a bass drop that rattles our complacent pews.

We cannot let “prayer‑only” become a euphemism for inaction. The churches must transform into resource hubs: food banks, skill‑training centres, and safe‑houses for displaced families. Yet the gospel of help must be paired with accountability; transparent reports on tithes, community audits, and joint town‑hall sessions with police can turn goodwill into measurable impact.

Let us also remember that insecurity thrives where poverty festers. If we mobilise our youths with vocational programmes, we cut the recruitment pipeline for bandits. The pulpit can still sing, but its melody must be backed by concrete deeds.