Politicians have been charged to always uphold good governance and shun greed, corruption, wickedness, avarice, ethnic and religious extremism in order to transform the society to advance development and good living.
This charge was made by Bishop of Anglican Communion, Ikeduru Diocese, Rt Rev Dr Emmanuel Chigozie Maduwuike, while presenting a presidential address during the 2020 Third Session of the fourth synod of the diocese, held on Saturday, 10th October, 2020, at St James Church, Amuzu, Amaimo, Amaimo Archdeaconry, Ikeduru local government area of Imo State.
Bishop Maduwike, told leaders to do the needful by providing infrastructural facilities as electricity, markets, portable water, quality road network, schools, healthcare centres that will be affordable by the people, including the provision of employment to deserving citizens and regular payment of salary and pension to workers and pensioners, among others.
He had queried why most Nigeria politicians are wicked in withholding basic things to which the people are entitled noting that Imo State as a civil service state should have the payment of salary and pensions of workers as the first priority of our state government. “The idea of some people in a parastatal claiming not to have received salary is confusing,” he declared..
He mentioned that “for the past 7 years the Anglican Diocese of Ikeduru has constantly maintained the Ekemele spot of the Owerri/ Okigwe Road every second week of October, either pouring of red mud, broken stones or draining the flood…this has cost us a reasonable amount of money as a Diocese…So, we advise that proper materials be used, coupled with proper supervision”.
When News Echo reporters who covered the Synod, asked the Bishop what could be done to curtail insecurity in the country especially against Christians, he opined that “our government knows what to be done to curtail insecurity in the country. If government decides today to stop insecurity, it will stop. No insurgency in the country that government is not aware”.
Maduwike called for the total restructuring of Nigeria even as he commended the Imo government for tackling Covid-19 pandemic. He thanked the health workers for the risks they took and urged the people to continue observing the protocols
The Bishop reminded Governor Hope Uzodinma to keep to his promise of using Julius Berger Construction Company to build the Owerri/Okigwe Road, harping that “at least, from the ones we have seen, they are not the roads that attract acid rains”.
Dwelling on the theme of the 2020 Synod, “Centrality Of The Cross As The Root Of Endurance”, Bishop Maduwike reminded Christians of the importance of living decently, stressing that Christ died on the Cross of Calvary so that mankind be saved from sin and damnation
He defined Synods in the Anglican Communion as a gathering of elected Anglican faithful with delegates representing parishes who gather yearly for appraisals, through which they look at what has been done within the year in order to project what is to be done in the coming year, proposals made and agreements reached with a view to moving the Church forward.
Noting that the Synod is the highest decision making body in every Diocese in the Anglican Communion, Maduwike pointed out that “every Synod is episcopally led- the Bishop leads the Synod, then Officers of the Diocese, Diocesans or laity”, describing the 2020 Synod as a huge success despite challenges, as he thanked members of the Church for their tireless efforts.
However, the Chief launcher of the Bishop’s presidential address, Ebubemba Ikeduru, Dr Sir Chimezie Anosike Kingsley, who was represented by Mrs Patricia Nwoye, the Director of Operations, News Echo in his message, appreciated the honour bestowed on him by Bishop of Ikeduru Diocese, Anglican Communion. He donated 2milion naira to launch the address.
