Bishop Ikeakor blames Nigeria’s failures on Presidency
By Chukwudi Ndubeze
The Bishop Diocese of Amichi in Anglican Communion, His Holiness Rt. Revd. Ephraim O. Ikeakor, has said that Nigeria as a country is sitting on a keg of gunpowder.
Bishop Ikeakor stated this, Friday, while delivering his Presidential address to mark the first session of the the fifth Diocesan Synod themed: “The Cross-less Christianity: A Contradictory Demand of True Discipleship.”
According to Ikeakor, “the state of things in Nigeria both economically, educationally, Politically and Security wise is not just discouraging and disturbing, but very depressive and destructive.
The Bishop blamed the Presidency for highjacking the powers of the president, saying thus, ” the nation is as good as a failed state.” He pointed that the President has failed to assert his power over the Presidency which has left the president controlled by the Presidency, instead of the other way round.”
He said, “The President has found it a herculean task to openly address the nation in an open function, apart from a seemingly stage-managed close circuit environment.
According to the Cleric, “the spate of killings, bloodletting and criminality of both Miyetti Alla, and Fulani Herdsmen has overran communities with sophisticated weapons, raping and maiming lives and properties without any challenge from the Federal Government.
He bemoaned situations where the President gave directive to security agencies to shoot at sight, criminal elements only for Garuba Shehu to issue a counter directive that such should not be shot.
While Ikeakor disclosed that the application of the law had been skewed in the country, he maintained that the President, Presidency, and the Spokesman of the President has failed to declare Miyetti Alla who he said sponsors and shields killer herdsman terrorist Group paving way for cattle rearers to have unhindered access to peoples’ farmlands.
He described as worrisome omen the sacking of security formations in many parts of the country, and the killing of Police and Army officers without meaningful end in sight, stating that such was aclear statement that the security apparatus of the nation is abysmally going into oblivion.
“We live in a country where the President, the Governors, the Senators, and top Political office holders still shamelessly travel abroad for Medical Treatment. Those countries were fixed by their leaders and citizens. Why is it absolutely impossible to fix the Power Sector in Nigeria? Why is our education sector in a total shamble and shatters? Why are our Universities producing thousands of PhD. Holders each year without any meaningful research and contribution in their field of specialty.
“Nigeria is crucially sitting on a keg of gunpowder. The leaders and leadership of this country should wake up to the reality that you cannot hold down the citizenry forever.
“We live in a country where the President, the Governors, the Senators, and top Political office holders still shamelessly travel abroad for Medical Treatment. Those countries were fixed by their leaders and citizens.
“Nigeria is crucially sitting on a keg of gunpowder. The leaders and leadership of this country should wake up to the reality that one cannot hold down the citizenry forever.
“Our leaders should know that it is no longer business as usual. They should now face the stack reality that Nigeria and Nigerians do not need restructuring of our country, they need critical Restructuring of this country. There is no way we can have a peaceful and satisfactory Nigeria if we continue to run this nation on the full provision of 1999 Constitution.
“There is urgent need for a holistic Constitutional Amendment and constitution re-evaluation. There is crucial need for State Police in Nigeria. The Economic Management Team of the Presidency should graduate from brainstorming to action storming.”
