The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), on Wednesday, gave serious knock on the All Progressives Congress for insisting on a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, despite general outcry.
The church said it was irresponsible of the APC to place its political survival over the stability and peace of Nigeria.
The Anglican Bishop of Kubwa Diocese, Rev. Dr. Duke Akamisoko, stated these in an interview with journalists during the 2022 Pre-Synod briefing which was held in Abuja.
He described the party’s same-faith ticket as totally unacceptable to the Anglican Communion; adding that it constituted “a gross abuse of our collective sensitivity as a nation.”
Akamisoko said, “Muslim-Muslim ticket at a time like this is a demonstration of insensitivity to the plurality of religion; the polarised nature of Nigeria; the plight of Christians in Nigeria and the feelings of Christians in Northern Nigeria etc.
“In fact, it is a direct insult on the entire Christendom. The APC has made a choice; it is left to Christians in Nigeria to also make their choice.
“There can never be a rational explanation for such a selfish, greedy and self-centered decision by the APC. It is irresponsible of the APC to take its political survival over the stability and peace of Nigeria.
“The party ought to have taken a cue from the opposition against his vice presidential ambition and how President Muhammadu Buhari opted for a Christian running mate in 2015 instead of the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“A Muslim-Muslim ticket is the greatest insult on the Christian community, especially in the Northern region. Is APC saying that there is no Northern Christian who is intelligent enough to be its running mate? Is APC saying that there is no Northern Christian who has a political value to deliver victory to it? Definitely, the answer is NO.”
He also spoke on other burning issues of national interest such as the lingering industrial action by university lecturers, insecurity, anti-graft war, the 2023 general election among others.
ASUU Strike
On the five-month-old strike by varsity workers, the Anglican Bishop warned that any country that did not take the education of its youths seriously was already preparing for a dooms day.
“For several months, ASUU, NASU and ASUP have been on strike. This is a very bad omen for our country.
“An idle hand is the devil’s workshop. Youths that are out of school are prone to participate in any act that can breach the peace and security of the country.
“Abandoning our youths in the wilderness of ASUU strike for the past five months is a great disservice to the Nigerian youths and the nation in general.
“The Federal Government should place more premium on the education sector, if indeed we are hoping for a better tomorrow,” he said.
Insecurity
On the worsening spate of insecurity in the country, the Bishop said: “As it is, today, nowhere is safe again. Our roads are no longer safe, the rail is no longer safe. And it is so obvious that a larger percentage of Nigerians cannot afford to travel by air.
“To attend places of worship, to go to market, school, even to stay in one’s house is no longer safe in this country. There has never been a time in this country that insecurity has been at the peak like this.
“We hereby call on the government to be alive to her responsibility of protecting lives and properties of its citizens.”
Anti-graft war
According to him, the Federal Government had failed Nigerians in the fight against corruption.
Akamisoko stated, “The spate at which corruption is growing in the country is alarming. The rate at which public officers are squandering public funds is second to none.
“We call on all the anti-graft agencies to wake up from slumber, imbibe high professionalism.
“We strongly advocate that every corrupt leader be brought to book, as that will serve as a deterrent to others.”
2023 general election
He said, “As 2023 general election draws closer, we call on Nigerians who have attained age of voting to obtain their PVC and go all out to perform their civic responsibility on the day of election.
“Nigerians should know that we can take our destiny in our hands by voting out bad leaders and bringing in visionary leaders that can take Nigeria to its promise land.
“We challenge party candidates who have already started campaigning for our votes, to focus on issues that can make Nigeria better and not irrelevances.
“We want them to know that one day, they shall give accounts of their stewardship to God who is the greatest and final judge of all mankind.
“We call on the Electoral Body to carry out its assignment without favour, bias or sentiment.
“As the body conducts the 2023 election, it should ensure that same is free and fair. This is the only way that the confidence of Nigerians can be built in the nation.”
Poor governance
The Bishop identified bad leadership as the main cause of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other vices in the country.
“It is on this premise we challenge leaders at all tiers of government to provide social amenities which can make life comfortable for Nigerians,” Akamisoko stated.
He, however, stressed that as part of the Anglican Church’s social responsibility in Nigeria’s capital city, it has decided to invest heavily in the health and educational development of the nation through the provision of 250-bed state-of-the-art hospital and a comprehensive secondary school.
