The General Overseer of Goshen Freedom Tabernacle (GFT) in Delta State, Prophet Austin Ariole, has called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to stop relying solely on symbolic prayers and take strategic steps to tackle insecurity in the country.
In a message addressed to both CAN leadership and political leaders on Monday, he warned that prayers without responsibility are “religion, not spirituality.”
Prophet Ariole suggested that instead of organizing nationwide prayers, CAN should “set up a high-level security and advocacy committee.” He emphasized that the committee must engage the President, governors, service chiefs, and national security stakeholders directly, not just through press statements, but via structured dialogue to address urgent security challenges.
He further urged the Nigerian church to mobilize its resources, saying, “God did not bless the church in Nigeria by accident. Our numbers, institutions, finances, and influence should be deployed for community protection, civic engagement, and grassroots security awareness.” Ariole stressed that the church’s involvement in security goes beyond spiritual intervention.
The cleric also called for moral reform within the church, stating, “Angels are not inactive by weakness; they are hindered by the widespread immorality and corruption that has crept into the church from top to bottom. Judgment must begin in the house of God.” He argued that spiritual integrity is essential for effective action against insecurity.
Prophet Ariole criticized political leaders for downplaying the crisis, saying, “Nigerians are being killed daily. Silence is complicity.” He urged them to prioritize security over politics, reform and modernize the security architecture, invest in intelligence, support security forces, and engage religious and community leaders sincerely to achieve meaningful results.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Ariole said, “The daily killings of innocent Nigerians are no longer just statistics; they are a national tragedy.” He added that addressing insecurity is both a spiritual and leadership responsibility, warning against double standards where some leaders publicly condemn violence while traveling under heavy protection. He cited biblical examples, noting that God expects believers to take physical responsibility alongside prayer.
