Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), has warned that Nigeria risks breaking up if its current challenges are not addressed.
The SGF gave the warning while speaking at an interdenominational church service to commemorate Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary in Abuja, on Sunday.
Mustapha, who represented Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the event, likened the nation’s challenges to the biblical story of Nehemiah who prayed to God when he faced some challenges in trying to return to Jerusalem.
He said Nigeria currently has cracks in its walls which he said “signifies the essence of the state of the nation”.
“The story should be a challenge to every Christian in Nigeria. It’s only that kind of Nehemiah’s love that will make us, as Nigerians, to rebuild the cracks we have in our walls today,” he said.
“For us in Nigeria, Nehemiah should be taken as a metaphor for those Nigerians who either reside in Nigeria or outside, to cry to God to use the abandoned opportunities in Nigeria to address our challenges of nation building.
“Fortunately for us, our walls are not yet broken but there are obvious cracks that could lead to a break if not properly addressed.
“Nehemiah started with fervent prayers, seeking the face of God and pleaded with his king to allow him return to Jerusalem to rebuild the broken walls because wall signifies peace, security, contentment and prosperity.”