People’s inability to return home for the Christmas was basically because of insecurity rather than hardship.
The Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia Archdiocese, His Grace, Rt. Rev. Dr. Chibuzo Raphael Opoko stated this in Umuahia Monday while interacting with newsmen stating that insecurity fueled hardship on the people.
According to him, “People did not come home because of hardship as such. If there is hardship and there is security, people would come. But there is insecurity, there is hardship and people are suffering, people are dying.
“Look at fuel in Umuahia, it is four hundred naira for a litre. How many people can buy this? People have not even seen food on their table for them to come. So, where is the governance when fuel is between N400.00 and N450.00 a litre?
“Look at a bag of rice, it is now N40, 000.00 for a bag when you heard that in the North, they are selling N28, 000.00 for a bag. So, what kind of a thing is this? Are we not in the same Nigeria?”
“We should be able to make up our mind to say that Nigeria will be well.
“This is because, we are all contributors to the problem that Nigeria is facing; we that keep silent, even the press who can build or use their pen to destroy the society. The clergy men have a lot to be blamed for because, some of them have decided to keep silent because they align with the forces that want to keep this place in darkness.
He therefore urged voters in the state in particular and Nigeria in general to enthrone credible leaders through their votes, stating “What I am saying to the people is that they should arise, and just not look at any party, but should look at people that are credible and vote for those people. If you vote, we will now have a change”.
He further advised, “If people give you money, eat it, anoint it with anointing oil and eat the money. It belongs to you.
“Are we not seeing what is happening? Cartons and bags of money decayed, that have been scattered, people hoarded when poverty is ravaging the land”.
“So, my message to them (leaders) is that let them know that at the end of the day, you are answerable to God and requires of us what we did”.
He advised “We are in a season where Jesus Christ came, where Prophet Isaiah prophesied that those who walked in darkness have seen a great light and those who are in the shallow of darkness, a light has come unto them, and that light is Jesus Christ.
“When Harold was told that Jesus was to be born, he planned to execute Jesus in other to keep his power.
“So, anyone who is trying to do something different, you will see the enemies of progress aligning in other to destroy you and therefore this time around, we will say, no. we are the people who will say no.
END
Market yourselves through door-to-door campaigns – TPM tells politicians
Nnanna Nwogu – Umuahia
Politicians in Nigeria have been advised to market and sell themselves through door-to-door campaigns in Nigeria.
This advice came from the National President of National Association of Traditional Prime Ministers, High Chief Uche James Akwukwegbu, popularly known by his business name, Bawas.
Fielding questions from newsmen in Umuahia after a traditional function, High Chie Akwukwegbu said “My advice is for politicians to play according to the game. This time, there is nothing like box carrying or vote buying.
“Now is the time for the politicians to market themselves through door-to-door campaign. Let the people accept you and vote for you”.
Bawas who also commented on national issues expressed his opinion on the return of Abians in diaspora this Chrismas season, stating, “Abia State is a very quiet place. The state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu is doing his best to make sure that crime rate is reduced.
“If you go to other states, a lot of crime is going on there. Many people did not come home because of insecurity”.
He gave reasons on why many Abians did not return home: “The transport fares were very high and cost of fuel was so high. From Lagos to Umuahia now is about N30, 000.00 by road. So, how can they come? When they come back, they will be trying to go back again paying the same transport price. The cost of transport is so much and therefore is the problem of many families. Things are very difficult”, he noted.
He advised the federal authorities to do all it can to bring down the cost of petroleum products, especially, fuel as when the cost of fuel is high, it affects the cost of every other thing, including transportation and food items.
“At many filling stations, there are no fuels. Some fuel stations said they sell at N300.00 for a litre, others sell at N350.00 for a litre or more.
“Worst still is you cannot even find the fuel in Port Harcourt or in Calabar. So, where can one get it? That is the problem we are facing. Let the government do the needful for the commoner and for the poor”.
