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Clerics blame unending insecurity, poverty on poor leadership

By Saxone Akhaine, Kaduna
22 June 2019   |   3:02 am
Worried by the state of the country’s economy and its current security challenges, both Catholic and Anglican clerics have blamed the poor leadership style of President Muhammadu Buhari for Nigeria’s woes. The Catholic priests from the 36 states, under the umbrella of Nigeria Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA), and leadership of the Diocese of Kaduna…

[FILES] Insecurity

Worried by the state of the country’s economy and its current security challenges, both Catholic and Anglican clerics have blamed the poor leadership style of President Muhammadu Buhari for Nigeria’s woes.

The Catholic priests from the 36 states, under the umbrella of Nigeria Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA), and leadership of the Diocese of Kaduna Anglican Communion, blamed the inability of Nigeria to surmount its challenges on federal government’s failure to provide effective policies to address the problems.

In closing remarks at the end of the NCDPA 32n Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Kaduna, the Provincial Chairman of the association, Rev. Father Williams Abba, said: “When a nation is governed well and those who govern do so justly and fairly, the fruits are evident- security and prosperity. 

“The unconscionable acts of banditry, kidnapping and other forms of terrorism stem from poor governance.

“We have enormous resources, human and natural. We have no business being where we are today as a nation. We have brilliant and patriotic Nigerians that can drive the process of the nation’s renaissance, and they cut across the divide.

“We encourage President Muhammadu Buhari to think Nigeria first and not some selfish political interests, who may not have the goodwill and wherewithal to take this great nation to the next level. 

“We hope that the federal government will take our resolutions to heart and implement them.”

Also, the Catholic priests, in a communiqué, stated: “Given the emergence of a new phase of governance in our country, the fruits of good governance continue to be the yearnings of all the citizens of Nigeria and beyond.

“Nigeria is our country; we do not have any other. Nigeria basically cries for justice, which is anchored on the dignity of the human person. Nigeria also yearns for an improved educational structure. Nigeria is derailed by poverty and insecurity.”

The communiqué, signed by NCDPA’s National President, Rev. Father Sylvester Onmoke, stressed: “The soul of good governance is effective leadership, which, no doubt, is an off shoot of a good educational system.

“But it is sad to note that the doors to productivity through education have been attacked, thus the poverty of the mind and insecurity have found a place at the heart of the governing system of our country.

“The agricultural and transport structures are equally on the brink of collapse, to mention but a few.  

“Prosperity, security and good governance begets growth, thus making the populace more productive. It enhances wealth.”

Meanwhile, at the 2nd session of the 21st Synod, yesterday, the Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Kaduna, Rt. Rev. Timothy Yahaya, said: “The Synod painfully observed that poverty in Nigeria is not something that started yesterday, today or days ago.

“This decease has been in the system for far too long and so many have given up trying to eradicate it.”

Yahaya, who blamed corruption in Nigeria on the activities of those in authority, said: “If those in government can come together and decide to stop corruption, then the country will move forward and the resources of the nation will be judiciously used for the entire populace.”

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