The National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Wale Oke, has attributed the continued survival of Nigeria to the prayers of Christians across the country, declaring that without such intercessions, “Nigeria would have collapsed.”
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Bishop Oke reflected on the 40-year journey of the PFN, the state of the nation, and the challenges facing the church, stressing that the impact of Pentecostal believers on Nigeria’s moral, spiritual, and socio-political development cannot be overstated.
“Nigeria is standing because of prayers”
Bishop Oke said that the PFN has remained steadfast in praying for the nation, emphasizing that divine intervention has been key to sustaining Nigeria despite its many challenges.
“We pray for this nation every day. The prayers of the saints are helping Nigeria. Nigeria would have collapsed but for the prayers of the people,” he said.
“One renowned man of God once said, ‘The only thing we need to do for the nation to collapse is to stop praying.’ The moment we stop praying, evil will take over.”
He explained that the PFN continues to mobilize millions of Pentecostal believers nationwide to pray and work for a better country, adding that spiritual vigilance is necessary to prevent chaos.
PFN’s 40-year impact on Nigeria
According to Bishop Oke, the PFN, which began as a unifying platform for Pentecostal churches in Nigeria, has grown into a formidable force influencing multiple sectors of national life.
“God has blessed the PFN hugely. To a great extent, the vision of our founding fathers — to bring Pentecostal believers together in unity under one umbrella — has been fulfilled,” he said.
He noted that Pentecostal churches have contributed immensely to education, healthcare, and community development, citing that the movement runs the largest number of private Christian universities and secondary schools in Nigeria.
“In the health sector, one of the earliest private medical facilities in Nigeria was established by our Archbishop, Benson Idahosa, of blessed memory,” he added.
Beyond the physical development, Bishop Oke said the PFN’s influence has been transformational in the spiritual and moral reawakening of Nigerians through the preaching of the gospel.
“The only weapon that can change the hearts of people is the gospel of Christ. When people receive the gospel, their lives change. We teach those whom God has saved to live godly lives and to be true disciples of Christ across the nation.”
Teaching faith and values for national renewal
Bishop Oke said that the PFN’s greatest legacy lies in nurturing responsible citizens through Christian discipleship, sound moral teachings, and value-driven leadership.
He urged Nigerians to change their narrative about the country and focus more on its positive sides, noting that persistent negativity can discourage hope and progress.
“There are positive things in this country. Whether we highlight them or not, there are good things in Nigeria, and we should begin to talk about them even as we talk about areas that need improvement,” he stated.
As PFN marks its 40th anniversary, Bishop Oke said the fellowship will intensify prayers and teaching on righteousness, governance, and peace.
“Until we get to that point where we can say it is Uhuru, we will not stop praying for this nation,” he said. “We will keep teaching Nigerians the need for rebirth in every aspect of national life.”
Challenges of unity among Pentecostals
Bishop Oke admitted that maintaining unity among diverse Pentecostal denominations remains one of PFN’s biggest challenges, noting that the fellowship continues to bridge doctrinal and leadership divides through dialogue, prayers, and teaching.
“If at that time Jesus was praying for the unity of the church, it means He saw the challenge ahead. We still have challenges in achieving unity, but that is one of the fundamental reasons the PFN was set up,” he said.
He explained that the PFN has established leadership structures and conflict resolution mechanisms to strengthen collaboration and maintain accountability among member churches.
Ensuring doctrinal integrity and accountability
The PFN President lamented that some individuals misuse the Pentecostal label without adhering to sound Christian doctrine. To address this, he said, the fellowship is setting up a national membership register to identify and regulate recognized Pentecostal churches across the country.
“Because Pentecostals project power so much, even when herbalists wear collars and do things that mess up Christian ethics, they are still called Pentecostals,” he said.
“The best we can do is to continue to teach, pray, and bring everyone together to ensure alignment.”
PFN on killings and alleged Christian genocide
Responding to questions on the alleged persecution of Christians in parts of the country, Bishop Oke cautioned against ethnic and religious labeling of violence, insisting that the PFN stands for the sanctity of every human life.
“Our position is that genocide exists, but it is not just about Christians. Whether Muslim or Christian, stop the killing — that is our priority,” he stressed.
“We don’t want Muslims to die, and we don’t want Christians to die. The government should stop the killings. No innocent Nigerian should lose his or her life for any reason.”
He emphasized that the PFN would continue to speak truth to power, reminding leaders that the welfare and safety of citizens remain their foremost duty.
Insecurity and political involvement
On the PFN’s role in addressing insecurity, Bishop Oke explained that while the fellowship’s primary tool is prayer, it also engages in civic and political education through its Department of Politics and Governance, headed by Rev. Femi Emmanuel.
“That department educates Pentecostals on the need to get involved in governance and shows practical examples of how things ought to be done,” he said.
“We don’t want to stop at praying; we want to raise people who are godly, who will enter the ring and help fix this nation.”
A vision for a reborn Nigeria
Looking ahead, Bishop Oke reaffirmed the PFN’s commitment to nation-building through faith, unity, and good governance, describing Nigeria’s 65 million Pentecostals as a major stabilizing force.
“Can you imagine 65 million people without leadership, guidance, or direction? That would have added to the nation’s troubles,” he said.
He concluded that the PFN remains committed to fostering moral revival, social transformation, and national rebirth, adding that “righteousness still exalts a nation.”
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