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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Chairman of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. John Joseph Hayab, has argued that Nigeria’s worsening social and political challenges stem more from moral failure than economic hardship.
He insisted that no meaningful national progress could occur without integrity, accountability and genuine fear of God.
Speaking during the dedication of the new auditorium of Amazing Grace Baptist Church, Angwan Zhawu, Gonin Gora, Kaduna, yesterday, Hayab warned that corruption, distrust and poor leadership culture were gradually eroding public confidence and weakening national unity.
The event drew an unusually diverse gathering of Christian worshippers, Muslim clerics, traditional rulers, and political figures, a development he described as symbolic of the kind of interfaith cooperation Nigeria desperately needs amid deepening ethnic and religious tensions.
According to him, the country’s instability cannot be solved by policies alone if leaders and citizens continue to abandon moral principles in both public and private life.
He stressed that religious institutions must move beyond erecting worship centres to producing responsible citizens capable of sustaining peace, justice and coexistence.
“If we fear God, then we are wise,” he said, adding that manipulation, dishonesty and abuse of power may deliver temporary gains but ultimately destroy societies and institutions.
He warned that unethical leadership was also creating dangerous disillusionment among young Nigerians, many of whom are increasingly losing faith in governance and public institutions due to bad examples set by political leaders.
“Manipulation is not success. Any process you manipulate, thinking you are smart, will end in shame,” he cautioned.
He further noted that churches and mosques risk losing relevance if communities remain divided despite growing religious influence across the country.
President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Israel Adelani Akanji, described the completion of the church auditorium as evidence of what faith, sacrifice and unity can achieve.
He urged the congregation to ensure the facility serves not just as a worship centre, but also as a hub for moral instruction, social development and community engagement, capable of contributing to national peace and stability.
