The Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of all Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev Henry Ndukuba, has called on the Federal Government to begin a process of providing a new civilian-oriented constitution for the country, rather than amend the 1999 document formulated by the military.
Ndukuba said there was also a need for courageous and caring leaders to rise and pilot the affairs of the nation.
He stated this during the opening the February meetings of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Standing Committee of the Mothers’ Union Executive at the St Andrew’s Anglican Church in Rumuobiokani, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Wednesday, which was attended by Governor Nyesom Wike.
The cleric warned the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), against the planned removal of fuel subsidy, saying such a move would negatively affect the economy and make more citizens poorer.
He said, “The removal of subsidies at this time will portend untold hardship for millions of Nigerians, especially those in the middle and low-income brackets. It will surely drive up the cost of fuel, which will lead to an increase in transportation fares, increased inflation rates, reduced purchasing power and a surge in poverty.
“Subsidy removal, in our view, will throw more Nigerians below the poverty line and further reinforce our unenviable status of being the poverty capital of the world.”
The cleric also advised against further borrowing and urged the Federal Government to heed the advice of the Monetary Policy Committee to seek alternative, more viable and efficient infrastructure-financing sources that would help ease the expenditure burden on the county.
He further said Nigeria needed a new civilian and democratic constitution made by sovereign representation of the ethnic nationalities in order to address the fundamental issues that had hampered national growth, unity and prosperity.
Ndukuba stated, “While we commend the National Assembly for its efforts to review the present constitution, we are convinced that what we need is a totally civilian constitution made by a sovereign representation of the ethnic nationalities of this country.
“This will address the fundamental issue of unity and a prosperous nation. We need a new citizens-made national constitution and not the amendment of the military-formulated constitution.”
In his speech, Wike urged the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, to use its numerical strength to ensure the enthronement of good political leadership in Nigeria.
The governor said while the church could not jettison the place of prayer, this should be combined with actual encouragement of the members to be involved in all political processes, including voting and being voted for.
Wike stated that the church had a divine obligation for good leadership over Nigeria to be realised which through active and effective engagement in the political process.
He said, “There are churches that claim tens of millions of registered members with branches everywhere, yet these numbers are not available in votes during crucial national elections.
“If the church doesn’t like what is happening to Nigeria, the ravaging insecurity; the lack of meaningful development; mass poverty; unending economic pains on ordinary Nigerians; the recurring violent conflicts and recriminations; the violence on women and children; the discrimination and widespread social, economic and political injustices and the general lack of hope and direction, then, it must start to mobilise its members and Nigerians in general to join and actively participate in the political process to bring about the genuine and sustainable change that our country so urgently needs.”
Wike donated the sum of N300m to support the Anglican Church of Nigeria.
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