We Need a Militant Church says Ex-President Obasanjo

​We Need a Militant Church says Ex-President Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said the reason the church in Nigeria is not making the desired impact in the country is because it is not militant enough in pursuing it’s values and calling.

Obasanjo made the remarks while delivering an address at the Golden Jubilee of the Annual LAWMNA International Convention of The Apostolic Church Nigeria, LAWNA Territory which took place at the National Temple Olorunda Ketu, Lagos State on Sunday August 2.

Explaining his use of the word militant, the former Head of State, who served as a military officer before becoming Nigeria’s civilian president, said the term should not be misconstrued.

“Being an ex-military man, I understand what being militant means. It means to be zealous and active in service,” he said.

He called on the Church in Nigeria to become more zealous and active in fulfilling its divine mandate, saying the country would have been in a better state if the Church had been more “militant” in advancing righteousness and societal transformation.

Obasanjo also disclosed that he had just returned from a meeting in Europe which focused on the common good of humanity, noting that more than 200 conflicts are currently taking place around the world.

The ex-president questioned the nation’s current state despite its large Christian population. “Let us now come home. In Nigeria, do we have peace, security, prosperity and love, yet we have churches?” he asked.

He urged the Church to rise to its responsibility of bringing about genuine human transformation by promoting peace, love and righteousness while remaining steadfast in the Christian faith.

“If we have a militant Church on earth and in Nigeria, it would have been a different situation for us in this country,” Obasanjo said.

The convention theme is a challenge to us all. We have something to do and a contribution to make to the world as God has created it.

“For Nigeria to become a land flowing with milk and honey, rather than a nation plagued by poverty and insecurity, we must be zealous and active as the Church Militant on earth,” he added.

Charging Christians to remain faithful to their calling, the former President said, “Children of God, we have a task ahead of us. We have challenges, and Christ expects us to fulfil our responsibilities and confront those challenges. God will empower us to carry out our duties.”

Obasanjo also congratulated the ministers and members of The Apostolic Church Nigeria on the Golden Jubilee of the annual convention, describing 50 years as a significant milestone that reflects maturity and growth.

Convention theme

The 2026 LAWNA Territory International Convention, themed “Church Militant on Earth” and drawn from 1 Timothy 6:12, commenced on Saturday, August 1, and will conclude on Friday, August 7, 2026, at the LAWNA International Convention Grounds, Olorunda-Ketu, Lagos State.

In his sermon, the National President TACN Pastor Lawrence Olusesan Oladele pointed out that the Church is facing the severest challenge and persecution in different dimensions both in Nigeria and across the world.

He said that there is a raging war against Christianity as churches are being forcefully converted to mosques in some country making it imperative that the church militant must be awake to defend the faith.

Oladele who was speaking in understanding the power confronting the Church in the spiritual warfare pointed out that Christians must see themselves as soldiers of Christ fighting against Satan and his emissaries.

He regretted that some Christians remained in the camp of Satan despite professing the faith, and as such could be regarded as fighting even against Jesus Christ.

“If you are still engaging in sins adultery and fornication, engaging in fighting and strife in the Church we are not yet soldiers of Christ,” he said.

Pastor Oladele called on the believers to understand their position in Christ who rose from death as a victor defeating Satan, and as given them victory also, in this world.