On Friday, April 29, the grounds of St Andrews Anglican Church, Ndukwe na Amibo in Ubakala, Umuahia South LGA of Abia State quaked as the Bishop of Umuahia Diocese of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Bishop Geoffrey Ibeabuchi delivered his Presidential Address during the 2nd session of Synod of the Diocese. Inside the presidential address is contained the State of the Nation address, where issues affecting the Nigerian nation are holistically tabled and critically tackled with truth told to the leaders of the country on where they have failed the people.
Commendations were also given to such leaders where they are deemed to have performed creditably.
Mounting the pulpit at St Andrews, Bishop Ibeabuchi minced no words in his criticism of the administration of President Mohamadu Buhari on the the ways he has been handling the affairs of the country, especially in areas of rising unemployment, insecurity, hunger and collapsing economy.
The Bishop also lambasted the federal government for the unaffordability of rice for Nigerians even when the federal government is still claiming that the country has achieved a milestone in rice production and sustainability. He also faulted the painful conditions of pensioners in Abia State and called on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to address the issue, even as he faulted the multiple conduct of verification of pensioners in the State without the desired results.
As the Bishop’s messages were going on, the Minister of State for Mines and Steel development who was a special invitee to the Synod, walked into the church. Also, Barr Chris Ezem, the Secretary to Abia State government and Hon Chinedum Orji, the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly also entered the church as the address was being presented. Looking straight in the direction of the top government functionaries, Bishop Ibeabuchi expressed disappointment about hardship being faced by Nigerians, even in the midst of abundant natural and human resources.
“The entire nation is under siege. Students and school children are kidnapped at ease, even in their house. Soldiers are kidnapped and killed at barracks. I became said when I heard that the honourable Minister of information said they bandits cannot be attacked with force. How many of the President’s orders against bandits have been carried out?” He frowned that Fulani herdsmen are inflicting sorrows on different communities in the country, with while their victims seem helpless because of the government’s inability to end the menace.
On the need for a new constitution in Nigeria, the Umuahia Diocese Bishop said “Nigeria’s present constitution is not working. We need a totally new civilian constitution, not amendment of a military formulated constitution.” He identified drugs abuse as a time bomb threatening the future of the nation, advising that the war against drugs abuse should gain more support from Nigerians and all concerned bodies.
Effects of hunger occasioned by scarcity and non-affordabiliy of food also attracted the attention of the Synod, which encouraged all Nigerians to go into farming, to ensure food sufficiency as ” We cannot depend on the federal government for food. We can feed ourselves. Fertilisers should be made available for farmers.” The Synod which took swipe at the non-resolution of ASUU/FG dispute, demanded that the children of our leaders should be made to study only in Nigeria, which the Synod said, would end the poor attention given to the education sector in the country.
On unemployment, warned, “Unemployment is still rising. If jobs are not created and our youths create something to keep them busy, this country may not know peace.”
He described the planned Census exercise by the federal government as unsuitable for the country now that the nation is facing security challenges. On the 2023 elections, Bishop Ibeabuchi encouraged Nigerians to use their permanent voter’s cards (PVCs) to vote for only credible candidates. He announced that possession of PVCs has become mandatory for every adult member of the church in the Umuahia Anglican Diocese, pointing out that such members must present their PVCs as a clearance for wedding, child deductions as there would be clearance for such persons unless they presented their voting card as it is the only means to choose a good leader.
The address also called for an end to buying and selling of votes during elections as it leads to emergence of wicked and incredible leaders. The Synod lamented that “In Nigeria, governance is always abandoned for for election activities whenever election period approaches.” The Bishop said that his Diocese would during the 2023 general polls, support the conduct of free and fair elections in Abia by raising an independent elections monitoring team, whose focus would be on credible electoral exercise and warned the youths of the church against allowing themselves to be used as thugs by politicians. He warned that any of his church members discovered to be working for politicians would be exposed and penalised.
He used the opportunity to ask Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to equip the Ebubeagu vigilante outfit to work together with conventional security agencies in Abia State towards securing the the lives and property of Abians, especially the forests.
The Anglican Bishop called for empowerment of farmers in Abia State with fertilisers and other farming implement, to enable them record bountiful harvest that could help Abia become self reliant in food production, while charging Abians to go into farming, to boost our food banks. Despite the poor score cards he handed President Mohamadu Buhari on State of the nation, the Synod gave him kudos for signing electoral Act into law, praised him for declaring bandits as terrorists after much pressure and for bringing Nigerians back from Ukraine after the outbreak of Russia/Ukraine war.
The Synod commended Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his efforts in making Abia State relatively peaceful more that some neighboring States. He reiterated that there is “no land for open grazing in Abia . We support the Abia State government on this. The primitive method of rearing cattle is not allowed.” As Bishop Geoffrey Ibeabuchi delivered his Presidential Address, the crowd gathered in the magnificent church edifice maintained deafening silence, as most listeners were gripped in emotions as they bemoaned Nigeria’s failed opportunities.
In his short speech, the Minister of State for Mines and Steel development, Dr Uchechukwu Ogah said ” Every man must give the account of his life on earth before God.”
Also, the Secretary to Abia State government, Barr Chris Ezem and the Speaker of Abia State Assembly, Hon Chinedum Orji commended the Church for the successful Synod and pleaded their continued support to the Church in molding a godly society.
Earlier in his speech, the keynote speaker, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe charged Christians to obtain their PVCs to vote out bad leadership, advising them against boycotting elections as doing that creates the room for emergence of bad rulers.
The Senate Minority leader said ” Prayer is good but when it is time to vote, it is your votes that are counted not your prayer points. The right people will not win elections when the believers refuse to participate in politics.”
