ABEOKUTA –The general overseer of Victory Life Bible Church (VLBC), Apostle Lawrence Achudume has described ethnic bigotry as reasons for the underdevelopment of Nigeria, despite years of independence and democratic rule.
Achudume made this assertion Sunday, while speaking with newsmen at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Holy Convocation of the church in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
He maintained that for the country to assess speedy development in administration and governance, it’s citizens must think Nigeria first, while doing away with religious and ethnic biases.
“As long as Nigerians keep mentioning ethnicity, we can’t move forward. Where I hear that non Indigenes should leave where they are, it doesn’t make sense.
“Britain was built by non Indigenes, and it’s still being built till today by non Indigenes. America is America today because of people that comes from different places to come and stay there. The best people in America are not real America Indigenes, they are foreigners.
“So, it doesn’t make sense that enlightened and educated people are the ones speaking ethnicity and religion.
“Let’s put those religious and ethnicity jargons behind us, and let’s speak Nigeria. Once we can speak Nigeria, there would be development”, he stressed
The clergyman further noted that the 2023 general elections has come and gone, adding that politicians should give peace and development a chance by supporting each other
“I think this last election was a big lesson, even though people are giving it different connotations, which I somehow feel ashamed that some people that I have so much regards for when I heard their comment concerning the last election, I feel ashamed.
“Nigeria needs speed in administration and governance. I don’t want to use what many people uses that we are on a reverse gear. We may not be on a reverse but we are too slow.
“In terms of development and social networking. Perhaps, the citizens are not to blame but the leadership. In practical terms, I think Nigerians need to renew their mind, to believe in Nigeria. We must reduce our personal pride and ego for us to have development”, he added.
