Nigeria's Destiny in Nigerian Hands: No Surrender of Sovereignty, Says Former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby
In a powerful address at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt. Rev. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, GCVO, has delivered a resounding call for Nigeria to chart its own course without yielding its sovereignty to external forces. Welby, who served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 2013 until his recent tenure ended, urged that "Nigeria's future must be decided by Nigerians themselves, without surrendering its sovereignty." The statement, delivered during a public lecture on inter-ethnic and religious harmony, resonates deeply amid Nigeria's persistent security challenges, economic pressures, and debates over foreign influence in national affairs. Welby's words come at a pivotal moment. Nigeria grapples with banditry, insurgency, farmer-herder conflicts, and economic hardships that have fueled calls for stronger internal unity and self-reliance. The former archbishop, who has deep personal connections to Nigeria—spanning decade...