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… Asks Buhari to unite Nigeria, tackle insecurity
Abiodun OBA
The All Nations Christian Assembly (ANCA) has noted that Nigeria has never been so divided like it is under the current Buhari administration.
The chairman of the Church Council, Mr. Sunday Oibe, therefore asked President Muhammadu Buhari to do everything within his power to unite Nigeria.
Addressing a press conference at the end of its annual conference in Kaduna, Oibe lamented the increasing level of hunger and poverty in the country which, according to him, has worsened as a result of insecurity, occasioned by killings and kidnapping for ransom.
“We urged President Muhammadu Buhari to do everything within his power to unite Nigeria irrespective of tribe, religion and political lineage.
“The level of disunity as being witnessed in Nigeria today is frightening,” Oibe said.
“Our diversity should be for the advantage and growth of this nation rather than the unfortunate acrimony being witnessed by different sections of the country,” he said.
According to him, the activities of criminal elements, especially the Boko Haram insurgents, bandits and kidnappers have destroyed socio-economic activities as many people cannot go to farm or travel for business.
He said, “There is serious hunger and poverty in the country and the government needs to take urgent steps to avert a looming food crisis in the coming year.”
Oibe said some members of the church who have farms around Kaduna, had since abandoned the farms because of fear of kidnappers.
“Eight members of our church were kidnapped in Kajuru, so how do you encourage anybody to go to farm in situations like this!
“We are begging the government to end insecurity because average Nigerians are farmers,” he said.
He further lamented the skyrocketing prices of food and growing youth unemployment, warning that hunger, poverty and joblessness may lead to anarchy in Nigeria if the government does not act fast.
The chairman of the Church Council, said the future of the Nigerian state “looks very bleak”, as children, especially, in the North, can no longer access schools for fear of being kidnapped.
“We urged President Buhari to declare a state of emergency in the security sector by seeking help and collaborating with external bodies to tame the menace of Boko Haram, criminal herdsmen and kidnappers that are terrorising Nigerians,” Oibe said.
He called on Nigerians to stand firm against the enemies of the nation and cautioned the youths against being used as agents of destabilising the country.
Oibe said ANCA, which was formally known and called Kaduna Christian Assembly, was founded 70 year ago, adding that since its existence, it has been focusing on preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the salvation of sinners.
He said the annual convention which usually holds in August, did not take place in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oibe said several teachings and presentations were made during the three-day event to strengthen members of the church to “stand firm in the Lord despite the daunting challenges they are facing.”
He added that during the year under review, the church established a multipurpose cooperative society with the aim of helping members to access soft loans for small businesses.
Oibe said the church also established Widows and Widowers Association to enable them cope with the emotional and psychological trauma as well as provide support to them.
He added that the church has a Deaf Ministry, which helps the deaf to be productive both spiritually and materially as opposed to the culture of begging.
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