By Vera Wisdom-Bassey
The General Overseer of Foursquare Churches in Nigeria, Rev. Sam Aboyeji, has called on President Bola Tinubu to amend the 1999 Constitution to accurately reflect the country’s identity as a secular state.
He argued that the constitution does not truly define what Nigeria is, making it difficult for an outsider to recognise its secular nature just by reading the document.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the International Conference for Ministers and Leaders (ICML) 2025, Aboyeji criticised the constitution for containing Islamic references, such as Sharia law, while failing to mention Christianity, the Bible or the Church. He questioned why one religion was explicitly referenced and the other omitted, arguing that the imbalance does not accurately represent the diverse religious landscape of Nigeria.
“We, as a church, work with what is stipulated or enshrined in the constitution of the church, so I see no reason the nation should not do so.
“The constitution is so faulty that amending it is not enough. We need a new constitution that clearly defines what this nation is. If you hand the current constitution to someone who knows nothing about Nigeria, they wouldn’t recognise it as a secular state,” he said.
He further emphasised that if Islamic laws could be included, Christian references should also be present to maintain fairness.
Beyond constitutional matters, Aboyeji expressed concerns over Nigeria’s economic challenges, particularly the soaring fuel prices. He attributed the crisis to selfish interests, claiming that those benefiting from the oil industry have continued to exploit the system without considering the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
“The crude oil is being transported abroad, while we struggle to find it in our own backyard. We are our own enemies. Some people only care about making money, regardless of how it affects others. It is high time we spoke honestly with ourselves,” he stated.
Despite the prevailing difficulties, he urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in faith, believing that better days lie ahead. Quoting the scriptures, he reminded Christians that “the just shall live by faith” and encouraged them to seek God and fear Him, as many of the nation’s problems could be solved if people upheld moral values.
Aboyeji also spoke about the importance of strong leadership in the church, revealing that Foursquare Churches in Nigeria have a structured training system in place to equip pastors, leaders and members. He explained that each year, the ICML programme is tailored to address contemporary challenges facing the nation, and the 2025 edition would focus on ‘Faith for Great Exploits,’ a theme chosen to inspire resilience and hope amid Nigeria’s ongoing struggles.
As the country grapples with economic and political uncertainties, he called on President Tinubu to lead with courage and righteousness, ensuring that constitutional reforms truly reflect Nigeria’s secular and multi-religious identity.
He stated that the church has a training mechanism in place to equip pastors, leaders, workers and members to become better Christians and be able to competently handle the work committed to their hands.
He urged members to take the opportunity of the conference to be held between April 14 and 18 at the Campground in Ogun State, as it is the flagship training programme that attracts attendance from all Foursquare churches across the globe. He added that it is also a baby of the church, which serves as a training ground for West Africans and Europeans.
“And we know that this training has been as far back as in the 70’s but today is being re-packaged and rebranded to meet the demands of the time,” he added.
The conference will also address the 70th anniversary of the church, which comes up later in the year at the campground.
Expected at the conference are 8,000 persons, and ministering at the ICML are Rev. Francis Sey, General Overseer of the church in Ghana and Rev. Emiko Amotsuka, president, Koinonia Ministries, Ibadan and other ministers.