The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said Nigeria must produce more God-fearing leaders if the country is to overcome its developmental challenges and achieve sustainable progress, stressing that the absence of leaders guided by moral values has contributed to corruption, insecurity, poverty and social inequality.
Governor Fubara made the remarks on Thursday while receiving the World President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler, at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
The delegation included Kohler’s wife, Andriene Marques Kohler, their daughter, Mariana Marques Kohler, and other senior ministers of the church.
The governor praised the Seventh-day Adventist Church for its longstanding contributions to education and leadership development in Nigeria, noting that the denomination has consistently invested in nurturing future generations through its educational institutions, including two universities currently operating in the country.
According to Fubara, the church has demonstrated that religion should go beyond preaching and defending the Christian faith by making meaningful contributions to society through education and human capital development.
“Our country is where it is today because we lack the fear of God. If you have the fear of God, there should be a limit to what you can do because you understand the supremacy of God.
But when God is not in your equation, you’ll go beyond the line, and that is what has brought us to where we are today,” the governor said.
He argued that educational institutions established by faith-based organisations play a vital role in producing not only academically qualified graduates but also morally upright leaders capable of serving society with integrity.
Fubara stressed that Nigeria requires competent individuals with sound character to occupy positions of authority, adding that proper preparation and moral discipline are essential for effective leadership.
“We need the right people being in the right place; prepared properly with good minds. That is what we need, not just in Nigeria but around the whole world,” he added.
The governor further linked many of Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges to the absence of ethical leadership, saying that corruption, criminality, poverty and widening inequality flourish where public officials lack accountability and the fear of God.
He advocated a system that guarantees access to quality education, affordable healthcare and decent living conditions, arguing that such social protections would significantly reduce crime and insecurity.
“If we have a situation where the little money that you’re being paid as wage can also afford you quality healthcare and after working for at least 15 to 20 years, you have a roof over your head, tell me why you should be involved in any kind of crime? At that point, you’ll feel secure, and this attitude of insecurity about the future that leads to all the social vices we have today won’t be there,” he said.
Governor Fubara thanked the church delegation for visiting Rivers State and for offering prayers for the state, assuring them of his administration’s continued support for their programmes and activities.
Earlier, Pastor Kohler said he was in Nigeria to participate in a special conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, during which thousands of ministers would undergo an empowerment programme aimed at strengthening their capacity to provide spiritual leadership and contribute more effectively to society.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the warm reception accorded his delegation, describing the visit to Rivers State as memorable and one that would remain with him for a lifetime.
