The Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rivers State Chapter, Reverend Minaibi Dagogo-Jack, has called on Nigerians, particularly Christians, to rise against political indifference and demand accountability from elected leaders, declaring that democracy in the country has largely failed to deliver the freedom and justice it was meant to guarantee.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday as part of activities marking the 2026 Democracy Day celebration, Dagogo-Jack lamented what he described as the gradual erosion of democratic values in Nigeria, insisting that citizens must go beyond mere complaints and take deliberate actions to safeguard democracy.

“Enough of laxity. Enough of carelessness. Let us speak out, and not only speak out, let us do things that are right for politicians to understand that they are not just there,” he declared.

The cleric said June 12, which symbolizes Nigeria’s democratic struggle and the quest for freedom, has lost much of its significance in the face of widespread insecurity, political manipulation and the absence of genuine democratic practices.

According to him, a day that ought to represent political freedom, justice and liberation for ordinary Nigerians now serves as a reminder of the nation’s deepening challenges.

“June 12 should represent freedom for the oppressed and freedom for Nigeria as a people. But when you look closely at what is happening today, the essence of June 12 has been defeated,” he said.

Dagogo-Jack referenced the recent declaration by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) designating June 12 to June 14 as “Black Days” for Nigeria, arguing that the designation reflects the grim realities confronting citizens.

He cited the prevalence of kidnapping, insecurity and alleged interference in the affairs of opposition political parties as evidence that democracy is under threat.

“We are in a situation where internal democracy is no longer practised. Opposition political parties complain that those in government interfere in their internal affairs. We now see one political party producing multiple candidates. That is not democracy; that is confusion,” he said.

The PFN chairman also criticized the growing trend of politicians defecting from one political party to another for personal advantage, describing it as a betrayal of political ideology and principles.

He warned that the nation’s youth continue to be exploited by politicians during election periods and announced that the PFN had just concluded a three-day seminar aimed at reorienting young people towards entrepreneurship, responsible citizenship and positive societal transformation.

According to him, the programme was designed to discourage youths from becoming tools in the hands of desperate politicians and instead prepare them to become agents of change.

“Our youths are being used to satisfy the electoral ambitions of very negative politicians. We gathered them to remind them that they were created by God as change agents and to redirect their minds toward productive ventures and development,” he stated.

Dagogo-Jack revealed that the PFN has begun a statewide mobilisation effort ahead of future elections, targeting over 600,000 votes across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.

He argued that the church possesses the numerical strength and moral authority to influence governance and ensure that credible leaders emerge through the electoral process.

“We are mobilising to produce more than 600,000 votes. The church can no longer remain silent while politicians continue to make decisions that negatively affect the people,” he said.

He, however, expressed concern over the loss of lives among security personnel and urged the government at all levels to provide them with modern equipment and technological support.

“Our soldiers, police officers and DSS operatives are dying on our behalf. They have families too. The government must provide them with sophisticated weapons and deploy modern technologies such as drones to improve security operations,” he said.

Dagogo-Jack also declared support for the proposed establishment of state police but cautioned against abuse by political office holders.

While welcoming legislative efforts toward decentralised policing, he stressed the need for robust legal safeguards to prevent governors from turning state police structures into political tools.

“State police are good, but there must be proper checks and balances. There must be legislation that will ensure governors do not take advantage of it. Nigeria’s politicians must learn to obey the rule of law,” he said.

The cleric further decried what he described as the irony of celebrating national events while citizens continue to suffer.

He recalled the recent abduction of schoolchildren and questioned the morality of celebrating Children’s Day when many children remained in captivity.

“It is shameful that while Nigeria celebrated Children’s Day, some children were still in the bush in the hands of kidnappers. What exactly were we celebrating?” he asked.

Turning his attention to church leaders, Dagogo-Jack challenged them to abandon what he called the “spirit of indifference” and become more actively involved in shaping the nation’s political future.

He argued that politics and governance are too important to be left solely in the hands of politicians.

“The church cannot continue to sleep. Politics is too important to be left to politicians alone. It is about administration and leadership. Christians must arise and enthrone righteousness in governance,” he said.

He maintained that righteousness, respect for the rule of law and accountability remain essential ingredients for national development and warned that Nigeria’s continued decline could only be reversed through collective action.

“The church is speaking because the country is bleeding. Nigeria is dying gradually and we cannot continue like this,” he said.

Despite the challenges, the PFN chairman expressed optimism that Rivers State would overcome its current difficulties, insisting that sustained prayers, civic engagement and responsible leadership would ultimately restore the state’s fortunes.

“Rivers State shall be free. We have prayed, we have spoken to ourselves and we will do more action. To God be the glory,” he concluded. !(The Guardian)

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