The Church of Nigeria, Diocese of Nigeria 2022 Synod says the entire Nigeria is under siege while the government is helpless.
Delivering his Presidential address on the occasion of the 10th Synod of the church held at St. Andrew’s Church, Nsukwe/Amibo Ubakala North Archdeaconry on Friday the Bishop of Umuahia Rt. Rev. Dr. Gregory Obijuru Ibeabuchi said “that the nation has become terribly unsafe is no longer a rumour”.
According to him, “Even our military base and formations are unsafe” as “top military men and our gallant soldiers are kidnapped and killed within military cantonments without anybody being arrested.
“Something has gone wrong even within the barracks. In some areas, farmers now pay taxes in cash or kind before they can access their farmlands in order to plant or harvest their crops”.
“The increasing rate of unemployment in our nation has become unacceptable. We still maintain our grounds and call on our government at all levels to stop increasing our national debts profile, but should start reducing them for the good of our future generations. As a Synod, we advise against further borrowing at all levels and request the government to obey the advice of the Monetary Policy Committee and to seek more viable, other alternatives and efficient methods of sourcing of funds for infrastructural and capital development. We cannot afford to walk into slavery”, the Bishop said.
While regretting the collapse of the national grid and its attendant high electricity bills, the synod called on the government to do all within its powers to restore electricity as soon as possible.
On the 2023 general elections, the synod warned that “buying and selling of votes must be completely avoided”, adding “this monster of political thuggery must be dealt with at all levels if the votes of Nigerians must count”.
The church called for war against drug addiction and abuse, stating “we need a new citizens-made national constitution and not the amendment of a military-formulated constitution”, while also moving a motion ‘that the children of our political leaders must study in Nigeria” as “the children of our politicians study abroad while they abandon our institutions to decay”.
The Synod however, commended the federal government for signing into law, the use of electronic transmission of election results and the new electoral bill, the suspension of planed removal of fuel subsidy, importations of vaccines against Covis-19, malaria and deceases, the recent purchase of military gadgets to combat terrorism and the boldness to declare bandits as terrorists.
The church also appreciated the federal government for rescuing Nigerian students in Ukraine, the proposed 2023 census and the pardon granted to some Nigerians.
While also commending the Abia State Government over its numerous achievements in the state, the synod said it “is still looking for the manifestation of the South East Security outfit, the Ebubeagu”, adding “as a church, we totally support the state government on her stand concerning the land grabbing plans or the open grazing of livestock, including the water resources bill”..
While calling on Abians to be security conscious, it pleaded with the state government, “our senior citizens must not be allowed to suffer and die with tears in their eyes against you and our nation”, while requesting the state government to make fertilizers available to farmers at the right time and at an affordable price as “selling fertilizers through contractors or third parties have not helped farmers”.
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Pix Rev Dr G O Ibeabuchi
