His Lordship Right Reverend Monday Chukwuma Nkwoagu, Anglican Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese.
From Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
The Bishop of Anglican Communion, Abakaliki Diocese, His Lordship Right Reverend Monday Chukwuma Nkwoagu has urged Nigerians to resist every attempt by political actors to distract them from electing credible candidates in the 2023 polls.
Bishop Nkwoagu who made this call on Tuesday in Abakaliki, condemned money politics, violence and killings as the electioneering campaign kicked off across the nation.
Emphasizing a communique of the first session of the Ninth Synod of Diocese of Abakaliki, Anglican Communion which was held at the Saint James Anglican Church, Onuebonyi in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Bishop Nkwoagu said "the Synod would like to once again remind them (political parties) of good example laid by the former President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan who said his political ambition did not worth the blood of any Nigerian.
The communique captioned "Distraction, the Bane of Mission and Every Accomplishment; A Call to Watchfulness in Serving the Lord," was endorsed by the President of the Synod - Bishop Monday Nkwegu and Ven. Dr Stev Okomgbeso - the Clerical Synod Secretary.
According to the communique, the act of Jonathan made him a true democrat as his patriotic disposition led to an 'almost free and peaceful election in 2015.'
"So, the Synod urges the politicians to play the game by the rules and by all means avoid heating the polity or any act of violence that will lead to loss of life and properly in the course of their campaigns and the elections," the Bishop noted in the communique.
He said the Synod commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for seamless elections, which she conducted in the states like Anambra, Ondo, Ekiti, and Osun, where her electronic transmission and other modern devices were deployed and rigging of the exercise in those places was minimized.
The Church noted that "in the recent times, INEC has assured Nigerians of credible elections," urging the country's electoral umpire to live up to her promise by disallowing distractions, extraneous factors and influence as she conducts the upcoming polls.
"For the electorate, the Synod reminds them of the sovereignty that lies with them and so, warns that they should not by any means succumb to the inducement of selling their votes before and during the forthcoming elections. That they should rather use their votes wisely to elect credible and patriotic leaders who like Nehemiah, should be burdened and have sleepless nights in trying to solve the numerous problems that had befallen this country and unite the people," Bishop Nkwoagu advised.
Speaking on the insecurity challenges facing the nation, the Anglican Bishop decried the continued worsening security of lives and property in Nigeria, saying that "on daily basis for several years now, the already intimidated and helpless citizens of our country are kidnapped and made commercial commodities in the hands of what the Federal government calls bandits.
"Some among the captives who could afford the humongous financial ransom, are left off the hook whereas others whose relations could not afford the money demanded were slaughtered like animals.
"Citizens are not safe on the roads, at home or the railways, even in the Church of God."
The Cleric asked: "How long shall the people of the country be subjected to this dangerous and dehumanizing situation while the government looks on, and does little or nothing to bring it to a halt? The Church dares ask further whether what is happening is a case of complicity, and why citizens' safety and freedom cannot be restored. This situation worries the Church and in no small way casts serious doubt in the family of the present government and her security agencies to adequately protect the lives and property of the people in our country."
On the Nigerian economy, Nkwoagu noted that the present government had allegedly appeared very much confused "as in case of insecurity of lives and property of her citizens, wherein her only source or major income, crude oil is being stolen by who? No one can explain, yet the Federal government under whose exclusive list of oil exploration and all that pertains to its rest, appears helpless, rather she resorted to humongous borrowings to run her business including payment of salaries. To the Synod, this is unacceptable, government should be able to know those involved in the illegal lifting and sale of crude oil from the shores of this country and bringing them to book."
He also expressed worry over the manner of conflicting judgements and rulings delivered by the reverend and respected noble Lords of the legal profession.
He however said that "some lawyers and judges may have allowed the unscrupulous politicians to influence them in their work and urge them to checkmate such unpleasant development to avoid further loss of confidence, faith and respect for the third arm of government," saying, its "lack of the independence" made "the wicked and unscrupulous politicians and their agents exploit to pervert justice and disrespect the rule of law."
In the education sector, according to the Anglican Bishop, the Synod observed with grave concern the continual falling standard of education in the country and described the incessant industrial action by the staff in the high institutions as the worst experience facing the system.
While commending the call off of the eight months strike by the ASUU, Nkwoagu questioned the losses accumulated by the Nigerian students as a result of the industrial action.
He commended Ebonyi state for a good plan put in place for the progress of education in the state but noted that "there is a serious dearth of teachers in various primary and secondary schools due to retirements without corollary employment of new ones."
He said that inadequate teachers in schools have created room for the low standards of academic activities in the schools, and "the same observation is made concerning hospitals, etc, hence the Synod urges the state government to put to work the different categories of workers employ in the recent time to fill up the vacancies for the progress of these great institutions in the state for the benefit of her citizenry.
The Cleric lamented infrastructure deficiency, saying that most federal roads in the southern part of the country, particularly the southeast zone are in dangerous and deplorable states.
Bishop Nkwoagu commended the ongoing work on the second Niger Bridge and further called for accelerated rehabilitation of other federal roads in the south-south and southeast zones.
He equally commended the Ebonyi State government for her numerous infrastructural development including the International Airport, the International Stadium under construction, and the already completed Christian Ecumenical Centre of the state, among others. He as well observed that some parts of the roads in various streets in the state have become dilapidated, and called for urgent repairs.
