By Chinonso Alozie

The National Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and General Overseer of Charismatic Renewal Ministries (CRM), Cosmas Ilechukwu, has expressed concern over the increasing hardships faced by Nigerians.

Speaking in Owerri at the conclusion of his 70th birthday celebration and the public presentation of his book, In Conversation with Myself, held at CRM Church, Ilechukwu urged Nigerians to turn to both hard work and prayer to ease the nation’s struggles.

Addressing the root causes of Nigeria’s issues, he remarked, “Nigeria’s problem isn’t prayer; it’s rooted in policy failures and poor leadership.” Reflecting on his journey to 70, he credited his success to “trust in God” and advised Nigerians to be content with their God-given purpose. “Without prayer, this country would collapse,” he said, emphasizing that prayer provides the “supernatural power” needed to endure the nation’s hardships.

When asked if prayer alone could solve Nigeria’s problems, Ilechukwu clarified, “God never intended for prayer to be the only solution to human challenges. It is essential, but Nigeria’s issues are fundamentally policy-driven, stemming from poor leadership.” He lamented the manipulation of electoral outcomes, saying, “We have bad leaders because when people win elections, they’re often denied the opportunity to govern.”

Regarding advice for current leaders, Ilechukwu was disheartened, stating, “Nigerian leaders don’t heed advice, so what’s the point?” He encouraged Nigerians instead: “We need prayer to survive, but we also need hard work. Whatever task you find, do it wholeheartedly, as unto the Lord.”

Earlier, in a sermon, PFN National President Francis Wale Oke described Ilechukwu as a “religious leader guided by intelligence, humility, and strong moral principles.”

At the subsequent book launch and leadership lecture series held at Rockview in Owerri, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ngozi Olehi condemned Nigeria’s current state of leadership, calling for collective action to “rise from the ashes.” Other speakers, including Professors Protus Uzoma and Bernard Nwoke, advocated for good governance and the establishment of resilient institutions to steer Nigeria toward progress.