Rev. Joshua Maina, in this interview with ARMSTRONG BAKAM, speaks on insecurity, true federalism and other issues
Nigeria what can you say about the state of the nation?
The state of the nation is that we have a bleeding nation. We have a disoriented and corrupt nation. The summary is that Nigeria has lost her glory and that is the state of the nation, and Nigerians are responsible for that.
What do you mean?
If you look at it from the divine point of view, geographically, Nigeria has been blessed with abundant natural resources more than most nations of the world and we have annual rainfall beyond human imagination. We till and plant in our land with rainfall. We reap our harvest under rainfall. Quite a lot of countries around the world are not experiencing this, even countries that are exporting food and other agricultural products do not depend on rainfall for their survival.
Corruption has eaten into the fabric of the nation; from the spiritual sector down to the economic sector and to the political sector, corruption is leading the country. Forget about the story we have at the government corridor. No regime will like to say it has failed. All regimes are saying they are doing their best.
The President in his independence speech said that it was senseless that Nigeria should be selling fuel lower than Saudi Arabia. What is your reaction to that statement?
Mr President has the right to compare Nigeria to other countries, but there’s a saying that goes that the easiest way to destroy your joy is to start comparing yourself with others. Saudi Arabia is governed by purely Arabs. How many nationals; how many ethnic groups does Saudi Arabia have? The predominant ethnic group in Saudi Arabia are the Arabs. The President ought not, in any way, have compared Nigeria to Saudi Arabia.
