The Diocese of Umuahia, Anglican Communion, has lamented the recent insecurity challenges, lop-sided appointments and other happenings confronting the nation, saying that they are threatening to the collective existence of the nation.
In their State of the Nation address presented at the 3rd session of the Ninth Synod of the church,held at the St Andrew’s Anglican Church,Isiama Afaraukwu, Umuahia, the church stated that there are activities that are ongoing in the nation that stand as a threat to the oneness of Nigeria, ranging from political appointments that are lop-sided to religious interference, infrastructural development to even sharing of palliatives.
According to the address, the most recent is the 22.7 billion (USD) loan approved by the National Assembly for infrastructural development, with all the geopolitical zones benefitting apart fron the South East region, that was allocated nothing in the fund.
On the other hand, the church revealed that the South East was also sidelined from the #20,000 palliative from the Federal Government.
The church further stated that the security situation in our country is another issue that is raising great concern, as the lives of people are threatened on daily basis,adding that in most parts of the country, people can nolonger sleep with their two eyes closed as some communities have been sacked with impunity, while state governments openly confess of betrayal by bandits, which tends to suggest that some state governors know the bandits terrorizing their states and are helpless.
They lamented the kidnap and gruesome killing of the Adamawa state CAN chairman, Rev Lawan Indimi by the Jihadists and other victims who are made to suffer because of their Christian faith.
However, the church decried Federal Government’s continued lukewarm attitude to the challenge, particularly the refusal to respond meaningfully to the growing concerns expressed by ordinary citizens, community leaders, religious and traditional rulers.
On the issue of unemployment, the church reminded government at all levels of their promise to create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths so that they can contribute their quota to the society and support in nation building.
The church, therefore advised the government to shift from the over reliance on oil since the price of oil has fallen in the world market and make haste to diversify the economy, by investing in other areas that could sustain the nation, as well as vehemently resist the pressure to external borrowing/loans for consumables and perishables as experiences have shown that it produces nothing but extreme suffering, humiliation and generational servitude to the people.
