President, Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Samuel Oladele, on Saturday, declared that the nation’s leaders reneged on electoral promises which gave them the votes of Nigerians.

Oladele lamented that political office-holders entrusted with the leadership of the country have not delivered on their manifestos, which promise a good life, security, power supply and healthcare facilities for all Nigerians.

“They promised they would make life better for Nigerians, they promised Nigerians light, they promised Nigerians security, and they promised them better healthcare, but none of it is coming. We are not seeing anything. We are paying almost N1,300 for fuel now. How can we bear that? It is too harsh for the citizens.

“So we are calling on the leaders of this nation, especially the president, to look at the situation in the country, and do something fast, as CAN would say, it should declare a state of emergency on security and other issues destroying this country,” Oladele said.

Oladele, represented by the Secretary General of the CAC, Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Emmanuel Mapur, made the statements while fielding questions from reporters at the send-off of the immediate-past Financial Director of the Church, Pastor Johnson Omitinde.

The CAC president urged those at the helm of affairs to take a second look at their manifestos and all they promised Nigerians, adding that nobody, including the Church, is happy about what is happening in the nation.

“The Church has seen what our citizens are going through. The Christian Association of Nigeria, being the lead body of the Church in Nigeria, has declared a three-day fasting and prayers for the Church to mourn over what is happening in this nation, especially the kidnapping, the killings, and all the jihadist practices in Nigeria. And that’s going to be done.

“We are not happy with what is happening, nobody is happy with what is happening in this nation, and so as a Church, our role is to pray, pray for leaders so that God will guide them.

“Insecurity has gone to a peak that we cannot bear any longer. So we have to declare mourning with prayers and fasting from June 12 through June 14, when we would all be putting on sack clothes, black clothes and mourning to tell the world that we don’t like what is happening in this nation,” he said.

The CAC president implored Governor Seyi Makinde to ensure the safe return of the abducted pupils and teachers to their families.

Oladele, while paying glowing tributes to Omitinde, the erstwhile Financial Director of the Church, described him as a man of consistent character, amiable, full of wisdom, peace-loving, articulate, and a model of the ideal associate pastor.

“He simply minded his business in the Church and carried out tasks that were assigned to him with a sense of responsibility. He is a great stabiliser. As a member of the Church’s management, his contributions in meetings are usually highly valuable and on point. Our working relationship, both as his pastor and president, has been rancour-free. It’s our prayer that he enjoys his time in retirement, in Jesus Name,” Oladele said.

Omitinde, speaking with newsmen shortly after the event, expressed gratitude to God for His grace and divine guidance that saw him through the over 30 years he dedicated to financial management of the Church, while drawing from his accounting and business administration background, and without compromising his integrity. “l learned early in life the values of discipline, honesty, hard work and contentment,” Omitinde said.

He appreciated the Church’s management for the support he enjoyed throughout his service. Omitinde also advised the younger generation to embrace hard work, honesty, perseverance, discipline and contentment, which are rewarding core values and to shun the temptation to get quick money.

The event attracted a large gathering of CAC members as well as dignitaries from all walks of life.