The President and General Overseer of the United Apostolic Church of Christ (UACC) Worldwide, Rev. Dr. James Bayo Owoyemi, has called on the federal and state governments to step up efforts in tackling the security and economic challenges confronting Nigeria.
Speaking in Lagos recently during a press conference to mark the 60th Anniversary of the church, Rev. Owoyemi lamented the state of insecurity, leadership failures, and corruption in the country.
He criticized the government’s approach of granting amnesty and rehabilitation to bandits while citizens continue to suffer violence and hardship.
“The problem of this country lies in leadership and corruption,” he said. “Instead of addressing the hardship Nigerians are facing, politicians are already focused on the 2027 elections.”
The cleric, however, urged Nigerians to remain patient and prayerful, assuring that there is hope for the country despite its many challenges.
“If not for the grace of God, Nigeria would have been something else by now. Despite insecurity, poverty, and economic hardship, the country still stands as one nation. That alone shows that God is at work,” he stated.
Owoyemi acknowledged that reforms and government policies often come with temporary pain but maintained that the challenges would not last forever.
“You don’t grow up in a day, and you can’t feed a malnourished person at once without risking another problem. Adjustments take time, but with patience, the results will come,” he explained.
He appealed to church leaders and Christians across the country to continue praying for Nigeria and its leaders, noting that true transformation would require both divine intervention and honest leadership.
“Corruption is a dangerous cancer eating deep into Nigeria’s economy. The country is blessed with abundant resources, even more than some Western nations, but poor leadership and corruption have held us back. With God and the right leadership, Nigeria will be great again,” he affirmed.
Owoyemi, recounted the church’s growth over the past five years, describing it as a season of “tremendous expansion, divine help, and renewed vision
Among other achievements, the President listed the establishment of a Women’s Conference, which has impacted families and marriages positively; the creation of a student fellowship on tertiary campuses to mentor and guide young people; and the inauguration of the Solomon Amunia Yoshela Foundation, which supports widows, orphans, and the less privileged. He also noted that the church now runs a medical team at its conventions to provide healthcare to participants.
Looking ahead, UACC has set its sights on education. The President disclosed that plans are underway to establish a university named after the church’s first president, Rev. Solomon Amunia Yoshela. The proposed institution will be sited within a “United City” that will also house hospitals, lecture halls, and Christian meeting facilities
Read more on Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics
