Nigeria is not working, Bishop warns

The Anglican Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Rt. Revd. Ndubuisi Obi, has said that Nigeria, as presently constituted, is not working.

The bishop, who pointed this out in his maiden presidential charge during the 2020 Synod of the Nnewi Diocese of the Anglican Communion, yesterday, noted: “The common people are suffering, there is abject poverty in the land, despite our touted oil revenue. This is the most unacceptable.

“Nigeria is only working for those who are benefitting from it; it is working for the elite.”

Speaking on the way out of the woods for the country, the bishop called for restructuring as the way to go, noting that it would stem the tide of persistent wanton killing of Christians in parts of Nigeria and also stop other atrocities that have befallen the country.

He stated: “The hydra-headed federal government must be dismantled and power should be ceded to the regions, while we have a loose, coordinating government at the federal level. 

“If we are a federal republic, then the regions must become federating regions and allowed to run their affairs, manage their resources, and develop at their place. This is the simplest unambiguous way to put Nigeria on the path of recovery.”

Coming near to tears, Obi passionately appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to make every effort to secure the release of Leah Sharibu and all other abducted citizens still with their abductors.

On COVID-19, he said Nigerians should do everything possible to protect themselves, maintain good hygiene at all times, avoid crowded places, reduce traveling, and pray always.

A governorship aspirant, TobeOlisa Olih, while commending the diocese for the giant steps taken in the last one year, expressed joy that it shares his views on how to refocus, transform and rebuild the state.

He thanked the bishop for proceeding to implement a key part of his manifesto of mass employment, agric revolution, vocational training, and infrastructural development of the state as a subtle way to tame the monstrous criminal activities among our youth.

Another governorship hopeful, Group-Capt. Nnamdi Nnoruka (rtd), commended the bishop for his outstanding achievements and sure-footed development roadmap since mounting the saddle.

He anchored his aspiration on the provision of jobs, industrialisation, moral rebirth of the youth, and vocational training with the aim of turning the state as a human resource centre for the world. 

Archbishop Emeritus of the Province of the Niger, His Grace Maxwell Anikwenwa, in response to reporters’ questions, said Governor Willie Obiano’s car gift to traditional rulers was a way to beef up security within the communities and commend them for support.