By Tony Obiechina
Amidst the ravagng effects of insecurity, terrorism and banditry to human lives and property in the country, a Bishop of the Anglican Church, Rt Rev Chamberlain Ogunedo has called on the federal government to urgently convoke a national conference among the component areas of Nigeria.
Ogunedo who is the Bishop of the Diocese of Mbaise, Anglican communion made the remark on saturday 29th May 2021 at the 2nd session, 10th synod of the diocese held at St Barnabas Anglican church Obizi in Ezinihittee mbaise local government of imo state.
Delivering his presidential address with the theme ‘ God is Ever Faithful, Ever Sure”, Bishop Ogunedo said governments at all levels must as a matter of urgency appreciate and appropriate their privileged positions to the good of the ordinary man and woman in the country.
“The need for an unbiased national conference among the component areas of our great country is imperative and of urgent demand. And more so, the need to look into the grievances of the dissenting people of the nation without molestation , victimisation and intimidation is a cogent step in the right direction towards redirecting a new agenda to addressing the menace of this ceaseless urge to have a truly democratic nation where every man’s view is important and our constitution and the rule of law, made standard for governance”.
“The state of insecurity is most alarming, a situation that has bargained our fundamental rights for the military deployment with reckless abuse of power, harassment and wanton killing of Nigerians.
“Those who are slaves are not only those who are bound in chains and sold as slaves but those, who accept it both mentally and physically.
“The looming slave structure that is overtaking us should be drastically condemned and constitutionally reviwed to embrace a peaceful and harmonious environment devoid of molestation, breach of of law and order and the abuse of civil rights of Citizens”
Ogunedo further deplored the alarming rate of insecurity in Imo State and called on the authorities to stop the ongoing carnage and intimidation in the state.
His words: “The eastern heartland ( imo state ) ” is besieged and traumatised by hardship occasioned by bad governance, insensitivity to the immediate needs in the area of indiscriminate and well coordinated distribution of rural infrastructure, well articulated and timely payment of due salaries of workers and the pensions and gratuities of senior citizens and not forgetting the appropriation of our common wealth to the welfare of the state in general.”
The clergyman regretted that almost 61 years of independence, Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the divine purpose that had knotted her 6 geo- political zones and the mystery of her multi ethnic nature, multi religious and cultural diversity, languages and being the most populous black race.
Stessing that Nigeria’s hope as a nation lies in the hand of God, Bishop Ogunedo called on the government and all stakeholders as well as leaders and Patriots to rise up to the challenge of ensuring good governance with human face “where adjudication of justice is administered within the ambit of the law and guarding our common goals and aspirations as a state and as a nation”.
