By Vera Wisdom-Bassey
The General Overseer of Foursquare Churches in Nigeria, Rev. Sam Aboyeji, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu push for amendment of the Nigerian Constitution to accurately reflect the country’s identity as a secular state.
Aboyeji said the current constitution does not state the true state of the country making it difficult for an outsider to recognize the nation’s secular nature just by reading the document.
“The constitution is so faulty that amending it is not enough,” he said, adding, “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, the person wouldn’t recognise it as a secular state.”
Aboyeji journalists ahead of the forthcoming International Conference for Ministers and Leaders (ICML) 2025, noted that the constitution contains Islamic references such as Sharia Law, while failing to mention Christianity, the Bible, or the Church. He questioned why the constitution explicitly referenced one religion while the other was omitted, suggesting that this 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 why the nation should not do so,” he said.
Aboyeji expressed concern over Nigeria’s economic challenges, particularly the soaring fuel prices. He attributed the crisis to selfish interests, saying that those benefiting from the oil industry continue to exploit the system without considering the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
Despite the prevailing difficulties, he urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in faith, believing that better days lie ahead.
As the country grapples with economic and political uncertainties, he called on President Tinubu to lead with courage and righteousness.