Anglican Bishops Speak on the State of the Nation
CONN/060106
Abuja, Jan. 18, 2006- The retreat of Anglican Bishops which ended last weekend in Agbahra-Otor, Delta State has issued a communiqué on the state of the nation.
The 12-point communiqué include comments on leadership in the country, the dangerous power play in some states, rotational presidency and the recent recapitalization in Nigeria’s banking industry.
Other issues that gained the attention of the over 90-bishops who approved the communiqué are the forthcoming census, the recent disasters in the aviation industry and the proliferation of NGOs.
Full text of communiqué:
CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
BISHOPS’ RETREAT, AGBARHA-OTOR
MONDAY, JANUARY 9 – SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2006
COMMUNIQUE
Preamble
The Bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) met under the guidance of the Holy Spirit for their Annual Retreat at the IBRU Retreat Centre from January 9 – 13, 2006, with the Primate, the Most Revd. Peter J. Akinola, CON, presiding and issued this communiqué.
1. We spent time to explore afresh the meaning and implication of our calling as Shepherds of God’s flock, and also scanned the wider spectrum of leadership in the nation with a deep concern that the people of God and the citizens of our nation be given responsible, sacrificial and exemplary leadership that builds up the people.
2. We commend this administration’s renewed combat against the hydra-headed monster of corruption that has bedevilled and belittled this nation for decades, and caution that we should not wait till the searchlight of the EFCC unsettle us before we scamper for the solace of integrity and rectitude, sometimes when it is too late.
3. We note with appreciation the recent renovation of first generation Teaching Hospitals by the Federal Government and urge that others should be added on to this befitting project. We also commend the Post-JAMB screening by the Universities as a necessary step to sanitizing the widespread admission irregularities in our universities.
4. We salute the phenomenal innovation by the Central Bank in the recent re-capitalization exercise in our banking industry and remind the Governor to fulfil his promise to ensure the recovery of deposits by customers from failed banks.
5. We congratulate the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and the National Executive of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, under the leadership of the Most Revd. Peter J. Akinola, CON, DD, for the completion and dedication of the National Christian Centre, after so long.
6. We denounce the increasing cases of moral and ethical bankruptcy, which challenge the integrity of Shepherds in both Church and State, who continue to manipulate and exploit the gullible shallow-minded sheep they are called to lead into the green pastures of God’s abundance.
7. We are grieved by the colossal loss of precious lives in the recent plane crashes, and sympathise deeply and prayerfully with the many affected families who will live with the horrid memories for the rest of their lives. We commend the setting up of the Task Force on Aviation that has since swung into action. But we must, as a nation, be proactive in all sectors to avert further needless tragedy, noting in particular the dangerous condition of our roads on which majority of Nigerians travel daily.
8. We view with utmost concern the volatile scenario of power play and political muscle-flexing that loom dangerously over Oyo, Anambra and a number of other states, and call on all who hold the greatness of this nation dear to their hearts to wade in and douse the potential conflagration that no one wants to replay.
9. We consider the upcoming national census too serious to our corporate survival and international reputation to exclude the important variables of ethnic and religious statistics. We therefore, call on the Federal Government to immediately include them as vital and non-negotiable parameters for responsible governance. The omission of these will devalue the purpose of this occasional exercise.
10. We call on the apostles of power shift to align their sentiments with the treasured values of our federalism and eschew all scheming that will tantamount to the desecration of our hard-won democracy and the sacred provisions of our national constitution. That we are now a nation with six (6) geopolitical zones should rather enrich our options in the search for visionary leadership from any part of the country.
11. We view with concern the increasing insensitivity and exploitative tendencies now dogging the proliferation of NGOs that make claims that are often devoid of credibility and accountability.
12. We call for the publication and immediate implementation of the reports of the Oputa Panel and the Political Reform Conference, which touched on many important issues that are critical to the survival of this nation and for which huge sums were expended.
Conclusion:
To our Eternal God, the Great Shepherd of His people, be honour and glory for ever and ever, Amen.
Signed:
The Most Rev Peter Akinola
Primate of All Nigeria, All Communion
(Church of Nigeria News)
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