ENUGU—THE Presbyterian Church of Nigeria yesterday accused the Federal Government of not doing enough to enhance freedom of religious worship in the country as enshrined in the constitution and warned that unless the incessant harassment of Christians in some parts of the country was checked, it would continue to threaten the unity and stability of the country.
In a 19-point communique issued in Enugu at the end of its general assembly, the church also extolled the exposure of the barbaric and demonic activities of the Okija Shrines by the Nigeria Police and asked the federal government to extend the raids to other parts of the country.
The communique signed by the Rt. Rev. Ubon Bassey Usung and the Rev. B.F. Fubara-Manuel, Moderator and Principal Clerk of the General Assembly respectively, called on the various levels of government to ban institutions whose practices were repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience. It also called on churches and religious bodies to join in the crusade to sanctify the land.
Regretting the spate of “internecine conflicts” which pervaded the geo-political zones of the country, the church said it constituted a threat to the unity of Nigeria just as it commended the humanitarian efforts of sending relief to victims of religious conflicts and enjoined the federal government to take immediate steps to resettle the refugees.
On the oil windfall to the country, it noted with great expectation the increase and advised that the “windfall be judiciously applied to projects and programmes that will enhance the welfare and the general well being of the people.”
Applauding the Due Process philosophy of the Federal Government as well as the introduction of “SERVICOM,” which was designed to monitor and enhance service delivery to the people, the church, however, advocated that these mechanisms be extended to the States and Local Governments, adding that the process must be seen to be above board.
“We commend President Olusegun Obasanjo for his drive for transparency and accountability in national life, and for putting in place the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but urge that these organs be rid of all disabling factors, empowered to function efficiently, and the factor of “Sacred Cows” eliminated,” the communique said.
The church therefore charged all her members in government at all levels, to be leading lights in the crusade to enhance transparency and accountability in governance.
While praising the “Operation 500 Roads” of the federal government, which it observed has led to the rehabilitation of many roads in the country, the church, however, noted with regrets that “major federal roads in the South-East and South-South Zones to which the Church has consistently drawn attention, have remained unattended to and are in very deplorable state.” It called on the government to take decisive steps to rectify the situation.
On the battle against fake drugs and counterfeiting, the Church further noted with satisfaction the activities of NAFDAC in sanitizing the drug industry, and commended the Director General, Dr. (Mrs.) Dora Akunyili for her “courage, integrity and forthrightness,” calling on government to identify more people with such qualities for appointment into other sensitive positions.
