The President, Word Communication Ministries (WOCOM), Apostle Sunday Popoola on Monday warned that the that the proposed Sovereign National Conference (SNC) should not be politically manipulated and that the government should not in any way interfere with the outcome of the conference.

Speaking with journalists in Ibadan who on the occasion of the country's 53

^rd

independence anniversary he stated that current efforts at convening the SNC was an opportunity to put an end to the crisis that emanated from amalgamation which he described as selfish and fraudulent.

He noted that the 1914 amalgamation of Nigeria, which is the basis for the

forthcoming centenary celebration by January 2014, was a mistake that must be corrected instead of celebrated.

According to him, 53 years ago, the hope of Nigeria was alive with joy, freedom, justice and opportunities for all to realise potential, but the reverse is the case today as the nation's dreams have been shattered and "hope dashed due to selfishness and insensitivity of our leaders who have been taken over by corruption."

The clergyman said, "Nigeria as a country has its foundation on the fraudulent intrigues of the imperialist who amalgamated 645 ethnic groups without putting into consideration the people, their diversity of culture, language, ethnicity and religion.

"Before the amalgamation of 1914 by the British, Nigeria existed as two different protectorates, the Northern and Southern protectorates. In 1914, the British decided to bring these two protectorates that are diverse in cultural believes and 645 ethnic groups together to form Nigeria, basically because of the personal interest making one protectorate subservient to the other.

"They went further to supervise and conducted the very first election enshrined in illegality, fraud and manipulation thereby laying foundation of corruption and injustice for the country," he said.

Popoola pointed out that "anything built on faulty foundation is doomed to

collapse", adding that if this country is to witness the tremendous advancement in all spheres as God intends it, then we need to look at the issue of our foundation critically.

According to the man of God, while defending his action in 1914, Sir Lord Luggard was quoted as saying:"When Nigeria has lived for 100 years they will decide what they want to do with Nigeria", this the Cleric said is a revelation that Nigeria it is time for us all to come to a round table and discuss the way out of Nigeria's problems.

The WOCOM President therefore called on well meaning Nigerians to lend their voices to the Sovereign National Conference and give it all it takes to work out successfully and that ensure its recommendations are implemented speedily.