After a video of Nyesom Wike at a church went viral, renowned attorney and former National Human Rights Commission chairman Chidi Odinkalu publicly criticised the former governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)….CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Amidst a church service, Wike was encircled by heavily guarded security personnel in the viral video, which instantly provoked conflicting responses. It seemed strange to many Nigerians that a temple of worship would require such a high degree of protection. When keen-eyed onlookers saw Wike straining to remain awake during the service, the drama took a new turn.
Reacting on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Odinkalu denounced the behaviour and called it a mockery of faith. He asked why political leaders, as if God Himself couldn’t protect them, would have a retinue of security guards in the church. Odinkalu claimed that Wike’s stance within the church demonstrated more than just his reliance on security. Despite the imposing security presence, he claimed that the former governor looked too drunk to remain awake, making the entire situation even more awkward. “These people enter churches with a retinue of security protection, as if God is too weak to protect them, even when they are too drunk to remain awake in church,” Odinkalu added.
This response has stoked a broader discussion on social media on public officials’ behaviour at places of worship. Many people concurred with Odinkalu that when at places of worship, leaders should set an example and be humble. Others countered that whether in church or not, protection is essential for a leader of Wike’s calibre. To sum up, Odinkalu’s remark reveals a rising apprehension among Nigerians over the public personas of politicians. Many people have more serious concerns about leadership humility, faith, and authority when they see a leader dozing off in a church while being closely watched by armed guards….CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
