Archbishop of Southeast Province and Bishop of Enugu Diocese (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Dr Emmanuel Chukwuma, last Thursday, marked his 31st years as Bishop. The fiery Cleric used the occasion to speak to a group of journalists in Enugu on the prevailing insecurity in the country, Igbo presidency, growing unemployment and other national issues. News Echo Correspondent, CHUMA AUSTIN, was there.
Excerpt:
Congratulations for your 31st anniversary as an Anglican Bishop. In all honesty, what is your view on the current socio-economic and political situation in Nigeria?
April 29, 2021 marked my 31 years concentration as Bishop in Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion. And by the grace of God I have witnessed different types of governments in Nigeria. Apart from experiencing the Nigeria civil war which happened in 1966-1970, everybody knows that we (Ndigbo) have been marginalized. Since 1966 to date, we have experienced a lot of things happening in our government and we thought that everything will be getting better, whereas as a Church, we feel saddened that things are not getting better rather getting worse.
“Whereby they find it difficult to secure lives, we call for a serious emergency stakeholders’ meeting on security and if possible, let them resign. In some places where these things have happened, and if not that the presidency has settled some people in the Force, the next thing would have been a coup that means the government cannot control security. Therefore, what I want to say is that the government of Nigeria should not move this country to the point of coup situation because people are getting tired and insecure. The president must wake up to see that the military, the police and other security agencies are well equipped to defend our country, Nigeria. The military must be sincere. It is unfortunate that all the money devoted for defence in the budget is said to be misused or missing. It is also unfortunate that those people who could not properly manage our security apparatus are now being made Ambassadors.”
So, as I celebrate my 31st year’s anniversary, we feel very much concerned about what is happening in Nigeria. First and foremost, we sympathized with families of all those who lost their lives in various killings in the country by insurgents. Due to the bastardly activities of the insurgents, the Church of God had been praying and will continue to pray for peace and we are asking God to intervene. We are very much concerned that the present government of Nigeria has been so much adamant. So much adamant to allow the prayers to God to be answered due to bad governance, nonchalant attitude, insincerity and not being sensitive to the problems of the people. One is so much concerned and worried that for the past years now, Nigeria has been passing through evil time.
But some say the present government under President Muhammadu Buhari is doing enough?
Who are those people saying the present government is doing enough? I want to say that we have never had it so bad that both the rich and the poor are now crying and this has become so much a painful thing to all of us in Nigeria. When this present government was coming in, everybody was praying to God to grant us relief because they were talking of change and we thought that the change that was going to come will bring a serious change for us to have a better Nigeria. But it has become so surprising that what we thought was going to be a change has become so much a disaster, painful and regrettable situation.
We, Nigerians are thinking of what sin we have committed. Apart from the COVID-19’pandemic which the whole world is experiencing, serious problems are confronting Nigeria today which had never ever been before and had brought a serious concern to the Church. I feel very much disturbed to be hearing most of the things that are happening. Now, we talk about rape, banditry, kidnapping, insecurity concerning children who are now abducted in schools. This has become so serious that people are afraid to send their children to school.
We totally condemn this as a Church. We do not accept this situation in a country like Nigeria. It is never in its character. I begin to ask, why should these things be happening in this present government of our President, Buhari? People are no safer. It has gone to the point that even those who you think will secure you are now in danger.
What is your take on the on-going bloody face-off between Nigeria security operatives and the militant wing of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Eastern Security Network (ESN)?
We are not happy with the face-off between the Nigeria security operatives and the IPOB. IPOB are not terrorists. They are only agitating for equality, justice and fairness in Nigeria. We are not also happy that the police, soldiers are now being attacked because these people are to maintain peace. We appeal to those people behind the attack to stop.
Whatever may be the mistake of these police and soldiers, let us give them a chance at least to defend our land. But whatever that had happened, the police and those in-charge of security have disappointed Nigerians by not being sincere with security.
They have been selective in security. What caused EndSARS protest was mainly because people were being molested unnecessarily by police and not only that check-points turned out to be places of extortions. Thank God End-SARS brought little sanity but the worst has come to be with us now. Look at what is going on in the Northern part of the country. We totally condemn the abduction of school children.
Why did you say IPOB is not a terrorist organization when the present government at the centre has tagged it so by proscription, insisting it is a dangerous group?
We definitely condemn the statement credited to the Minister of Information blackmailing the IPOB that they are terrorists. And I want to say that they are not terrorists. They should also declare Fulani herdsmen terrorists. IPOB are agitators by my own interpretation. They are agitating for equal rights but unfortunately people misunderstood them.
When you say somebody is a terrorist and the person begins to behave like one. This is the problem. We have begun to talk to them to sheath their swords. We are working hard as a Church with Ohanaeze Ndigbo to have a dialogue with our brothers and they know they cannot do anything about this agitation alone. Ohanaeze Ndigbo will soon make a pronouncement on the security outfit called Ebubeagu which has been adopted by the Southeast governors.
There is fear in some quarters that Ebubeagu was created to checkmate ESN and consolidate Islamist stronghold in Igbo land?
Ebubeagu was established by the South East governors to defend lives and property of South East people. It was not created to fight IPOB, ESN or whatever or to support the Fulani jihad. It is not true and anybody saying that is talking nonsense. All what the five governors and Ohanaeze are talking with religious leaders is that we must find a way but unfortunately we have been talking too much.
But action will soon come up to make sure there is peace in Igbo land. South East is not a place where people come and think they can do whatever they like. It is not in the character of Igbo to kill people. We have never been involved in killing people. And whoever is involved or masterminding these killings should please stop. The killings, shooting we are seeing today are ungodly.
Generally, how do you address the issue of insecurity in the country?
A lot of evil is happening in this country. The banditry, killings, maiming and kidnapping have spread to the Southern part of the country. Everywhere in Nigeria is not safe. What is the solution we don’t know yet but we are calling on government of Nigeria and particularly the President who is the Commander-in-Chief to rise up to his responsibility with his new Service Chiefs to make sure lives and properties are secured.
Whereby they find it difficult to secure lives, we call for a serious emergency stakeholders’ meeting on security and if possible, let them resign. In some places where these things have happened, and if not that the presidency has settled some people in the Force, the next thing would have been coup that means the government cannot control security.
Therefore, what I want to say is that the government of Nigeria should not move this country to the point of coup situation because people are getting tired and insecure. The president must wake up to see that the military, the police and other security agencies are well equipped to defend our country, Nigeria. The military must be sincere. It is unfortunate that all the money devoted for defence in the budget is said to be misused or missing. It is also unfortunate that those people who could not properly manage our security apparatus are now being made Ambassadors.
Are you satisfied with the performances of the nation’s political leaders?
Our political leaders have failed woefully. Many of them are insensitive to the plight of the masses. Check the growing number of our able youths roaming the streets seeking elusive jobs. Unemployment rate is so alarming because our political leaders do not have vision for purposeful and pragmatic leadership. We have put the right people as our leaders to make things right.
The Church frowns at the way our leaders live in affluence when majority are poor. There is hunger in the land largely caused by selfishness and greed of our leaders. This bad governance has led to present restiveness in the country. We need to have leaders with fear of God who should be responsive, responsible and accountable to the people. Nigeria is endowed with abundant human and natural resources. We have to strengthen our system to get credible leaders at all levels, devoid of ethnicity, sectionalism and religion sentiment.
“We are not happy with the face-off between the Nigeria security operatives and the IPOB. IPOB are not terrorists. They are only agitating for equality, justice and fairness in Nigeria. We are not also happy that the police, soldiers are now being attacked because these people are to maintain peace. We appeal to those people behind the attack to stop. Whatever may be the mistake of these police and soldiers, let us give them a chance at least to defend our land. But whatever that had happened, the police and those in-charge of security have disappointed Nigerians by not being sincere with security. They have been selective in security. What caused EndSARS protest was mainly because people were being molested unnecessarily by police and not only that check-points turned out to be places of extortions. Thank God End-SARS brought little sanity but the worst has come to be with us now. Look at what is going on in the Northern part of the country. We totally condemn the abduction of school children.’
