Leader of House On The Rock Church, Pastor Paul Adefarasin has stirred fresh debate after telling his congregation that Nigeria was not established by divine plan.
Naijaonpoint reports that the clergyman explained that the country came into existence to serve the interests of the British rather than its people.
According to him, Nigeria’s name was not of local origin but was given by the girlfriend of a British official during the colonial era when Lord Lugard and other administrators merged the regions.
The preacher argued that Nigeria’s political figures often regarded as founding fathers, including Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, and Nnamdi Azikiwe, did not create the nation.
Instead, he linked its formation to decisions made in Whitehall, Britain.
“I don’t believe Nigeria was created by God. This nation was created for the business of the British purse so they wouldn’t have to bear the bill for the less prosperous parts of the region,” Adefarasin said.
While addressing his church, he lamented Nigeria’s slow economic growth, saying that the country should by now serve as Africa’s industrial hub but has instead become a market for imported goods.
He stressed the need for urgent changes in the education system, with a stronger focus on technical schools that can produce skilled inventors and manufacturers.
Using China as a reference, he said Nigeria has the potential to become a global factory if leaders with fairness and commitment dedicate themselves to rebuilding the nation.
“We have people poorer than their labourers. Nigeria must rise to become the factory of the world. But it will take men of justice and equity who devote themselves to nation-building,” Adefarasin charged.
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