PFN Foresees Changes Coming In Nigeria
Bishop Dr. Francis Wale Oke
As national executives of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) converged at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the penultimate week for executive retreat, a passionate plea, urging Nigerians to pray for God’s intervention on the nation’s protracted ills was been made by PFN national president, Bishop Dr. Francis Wale Oke, just as the retreat geared up to start.
Obviously burdened by daily happenings in the country, ranging from widespread insecurity, killings by armed herders and kidnapping, Bishop Wale Oke noted that the country’s problems were beyond human abilities, and that prayers must be consistently offered for God’s merciful intervention.
According to him, one of the objectives of the national executive retreat in Uyo was to seek God’s mercies for intervention in Nigeria’s affairs. He nonetheless declared that changes in the nation’s current narratives were imminent.
His words: “Nigeria needs definite intervention from God Almighty; we are trusting God to use the period of this retreat to show his mercies for intervention in the affairs of Nigeria.” Affirming the determination of the PFN’s retreat to shed new waves of glory for change in the nation, he said: “We are trusting God that the outpouring of God’s Spirit during the four day retreat will usher in a new wave of glory upon the nation, ” noting that the sad happenings in Nigeria today, including economic meltdown, rising cost of living, insecurity, killings, kidnapping of travellers on the highway and invasion of communities by armed herdsmen to kidnap and kill innocent citizens, cannot continue any longer, as divine intervention will put to an end the ills bedevilling the nation.
Bishop Dr. Francis Wale Oke
Giving a glimpse of hope in what has become a repeated circle of spiritual darkness spelling doom on the nation, Bishop Oke declared: “A change is coming. Things cannot continue to be this way. How God is going to do it is in his hands, a change is coming and God will do it.”
Lamenting over the hydra-headed problems of the nation, which have defied government economic re-engineering efforts, the retreat, according to him, is pivotal for spiritual transformation that will midwife the emergence of a better Nigeria.
Adding, “PFN is here as light in the darkness; at the end of the tunnel there’s light and darkness cannot overcome it. There is light for Nigeria, in spite of darkness.”
At the opening session of the retreat, held at Ceedapeg hotels, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, the PFN President eulogized Rev’d Dr Uma Ukpai for his outstanding contributions to the formation, growth and strength of PFN. Bishop Oke recalled how in 1985 during the greater Lagos crusade, Rev’d Dr. Uma Ukpai galvanized the success of the crusade for what has today known as a formidable Christian body with influence spanning the spiritual, social, economic and political body politic of the nation.
He was particularly elated that PFN, which clocks 40th years in October this year, will use the retreat as opportunity to assess the organisation’s impact on the country.
Meanwhile, national executives of PFN across the nation attended the retreat, as they engaged in deep spiritual contemplation, prayers and direction for the future.
The retreat theme, ‘PFN, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,’ will review the ten point agenda of the current administration, among others. Archbishop Emmah Gospel Isong, the PFN National Vice President, South South, earlier explained that the retreat was exclusively planned for national executives, and was not open to the general public. He lauded the success recorded so far by the
administration of Bishop Dr Francis Wake Oke, especially his capacity to enhance cordial relationship amongst the leadership of the Christian community in Nigeria. He described the PFN retreat as a unique one, expressing hope for the far-reaching spiritual impact of the retreat on the State of Akwa Ibom and Nigeria as a whole.
Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has appreciated members of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, (PFN), for their contributions to his administration and support for good governance through unceasing prayers and advocacy for morality, probity and social welfare.
The Governor who attended the retreat Wednesday May 14, 2025, commended the spiritual fathers, saying: “We commend PFN for being a strong platform of inserting morality within the corridors of power by speaking truth to power, and demanding from us the leaders, certain level of accountability and concern for the poor and the vulnerable,” he said.
He appreciated the commitment of the body for always standing and advocating for good governance in the last forty years, saying that the stance has greatly helped refine governance for the better.
Pastor Eno noted that PFN has been a major platform in the body of Christ that has always planted the seed of salvation and redemption while ensuring the growth and expansion of the Lord’s vineyard.
The Governor acknowledged that Nigeria as a nation is benefiting greatly from PFN through its laudable spiritual work, and encouraged the body to continue steadfastly in its counselling and guidance works for the overall good of all.
“The nation has benefitted immensely from your wise counsel to leaders; and, the great thing is that, you have consistently provided this counsel in an atmosphere of civility, humility, and love in accordance with Christian values.
“You have always been presenting your messages in a way that leadership could easily see the love by which the message is passed. You have distinguished between the Ministry of John the Baptist and the Ministry of Prophet Nathan which is always helping leaders to assimilate messages,” he stated.
The Governor acknowledged that the retreat is beneficial to the State and the fathers of faith who have gathered to brainstorm and gain from the robust interactions from the experiences and knowledge of respected servants of God in Nigeria. Pastor Eno, who is also a member of the PFN, encouraged members to take part in politics in order to correct what needs to be corrected in governance, rather than standing aside to condemn and see politics as a dirty game.
“It is impressive that some clergies are part of politics now as opposed to the popular slogan that we should not get soaked in the murky waters of politics. I think the more we get the courage to get our people involved, the more we can collectively change the narrative of governance for the better. “So, I am of the opinion that if we do not get involved on the inside, we can only criticize from the outside, the people inside will not listen to us. But, the more we get ourselves inside, the more we can, from the inside, begin to change the narrative.
“From there, we will begin to have women and men of conscience and morality to clear and clean the murky waters of politics,” he stated. Earlier, the National President Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, thanked the Governor for hosting and attending the occasion, and prayed God to continue to enrich him with more wisdom, strength, and grace to lead the State to greater heights.
On his part, the PFN National Vice President, South-South, Archbishop Emmah Isong, commended the magnanimity, generosity, humility of the Governor, and extolled his inclusive, unifying and exemplary leadership style in the State. Highpoint of the event was special prayers for the Governor and State led by one of PFN’s founding fathers and host, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai.
