The Presiding Bishop of Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Francis Wale-Oke, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take firm action by flushing out what he described as moles and fifth columnists within Nigeria’s security system in order to decisively tackle insecurity.

The cleric noted that insecurity has overtaken corruption as the most feared challenge facing the country.

While commending the Tinubu administration for intensifying efforts to combat insecurity, he urged the President to do more.

Bishop Wale-Oke also appealed to Islamic leaders, particularly the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, to openly condemn the acts of kidnapping, banditry, Boko Haram insurgency, and other crimes being carried out in the name of Islam, a religion he said is known for peace.

He made the remarks while hosting journalists at an end-of-year luncheon held on Sunday at the Covenant Cathedral, Parliament Road, Ibadan.

According to the bishop, Nigeria’s security architecture requires a comprehensive overhaul, stressing that the President should spare no one in the pursuit of justice.

He expressed concern over the presence of moles and fifth columnists within the security apparatus, which he said continue to undermine efforts to address insecurity.

Bishop Wale-Oke also criticised the previous administration’s policy of reintegrating repentant bandits into the military, describing the approach as “playing with fire.”

He said, “We have come to the end of a very challenging year. This year has been challenging for Nigerians. The cries of Nigerians are very loud.

The economic hardship, the corruption issue in Nigeria, and then insecurity has come to the fore. It has become a major issue. I want to say, up until now, people have said the number one challenge of Nigeria is corruption.

“And to a larger extent, I believe corruption is major. We have got to deal with corruption before corruption brings our nation down. But you all will agree with me that insecurity has suddenly surpassed the matter of corruption as the number one challenge in Nigeria.

“Because where there is insecurity, we cannot travel freely, we cannot do business freely. When the road is not free, the air is not free, the home is not free, the gathering is not free, everything and everybody will be affected. So, insecurity has become an issue.

“And let me say this, I want to commend the federal government in stepping up of recent, as the government of President Bola Tinubu in stepping up the fight against insecurity. For a long time, we have been asking for a change and overhaul in the security architecture of Nigeria. And we saw a bit of it now.

“The appointment of a new Chief of Army Staff and some shuffling going on, indicating the determination of President Tinubu to deal with the matter of insecurity, head on. And we want our president to push it to its logical conclusion. To spare no one. To allow no sacred cow.

“If we don’t bring insecurity down, insecurity will bring this nation down. And the commander-in-chief should be commander-in-chief indeed to deal with it.

“We are aware that all our security apparatus have been infested with moles and fifth columnists, planted by people who have interest in creating chaos and in weakening our security apparatus. Our soldiers are losing their lives needlessly. A general was brutally killed, which should not be so at all.

“And it’s because the moles in the system have not been flushed out. When the previous administration came out with this odious, nefarious policy of reintegrating the so-called repentant bandits into the military system, we cried out at that time that this is playing with fire. It’s like you put a cobra on your head and you’re putting your cap on it.

“When you’re bringing so-called repentant terrorists. First and foremost, there’s nothing like repentant terrorists. Governance is not church service. In church, when people sin and they confess their sin and they repent, we pray for them and ask God to forgive them. In governance, when people are caught breaking the law, they face the music and they face the full wrath of the law.

“People are kidnapping. People are raping. People are killing. People are taking our children and they are messing them up. And they will kidnap hundreds of our children and force them to march several kilometres. Young people. You’re coming to tell me that these ones are repentant. No, they’re not repentant. They just want to enter into the system so they can weaken the system from within.

“So, we want to urge President Tinubu to put his feet down and to flush the moles out. To flush the fifth columnists out that are there. To make sure that we are not wasting the precious life of our gallant officers and our intelligence officers that are doing a great work.”

He said further, “Please flush them out. Give them a red card. Don’t treat terrorists, bandits, Boko Haram, Lakurawa or whatever name they are called, that are killing, maiming, raping, kidnapping. Don’t treat them as repentant. If they want to repent, leave that between them and God. Send them to hell. On their way to hell, if they repent, leave that to God.

“The work of governance is to bring the will of justice to grind heavily on people that are killing, maiming, raping and making life difficult for Nigerians. These are plea to Mr. President.

“We commend our President in moving very fast. I would commend our President in agreeing to cooperate with the American government to coordinate a joint effort between American military and Nigerian military to flush out this banditry.

“Because if for about 15years, we have been fighting them, and rather than things getting better, it’s getting worse, it means we are not coping. And then, let’s ask for help. And let’s cooperate.

“We are not submitting our sovereignty to America, no. We are working hand-in-hand with them to deal with these wicked people that are creating hell for Nigeria. And by the time they know that they have not save heaven, by the time they know that both Nigerian military and American military are working together to flush them out, they will withdraw.

“And if they know that they cannot practice their game again, they go back to where they have come. So, we thank God that things like this are happening. President Tinubu, you are doing a good job with this number one thing.”

The bishop further called on politicians to prioritize good governance and deal with corruption decisively, rather than turning anti-corruption agencies into political tools.

He also appealed to Islamic leaders to speak out against the use of their religion as a cover for evil acts, such as kidnapping and killing.

In a message of hope, Bishop Wale-Oke cited Job 14:7, saying, “For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, it will sprout again.” He urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and to join hands to end the killings and insecurity in the country. (The Nation)