Time For The Church To Act
As we count down to the 2015 general elections in the country, it is very necessary and apt to remind Nigerians of the need for all hands to be on deck to ensure that we avoid the mistakes of the past.
And in so doing, it is absolutely important for every Nigerian to appreciate the simple fact that as stakeholders in the Nigerian project, we should all live up to our various responsibilities for a true democratic nation devoid of rancor and bitterness.
In so doing therefore, no section or group should feel unconcerned about the daily happenings and activities of the so called politicians.
Come to think of it, who is not a politician in Nigeria or elsewhere? For the avoidance of doubt, all human beings are political whether politicking as a career, as a hobby or by nature is immaterial.
What do you say when a parent favours one of the children knowingly or unknowingly among other children? How about when a Bishop posts some of his clergies to poor parishes and others to more buoyant areas. Think of animals Governor who posts certain Commissioners to more juicy ministries than others.
This also happens in the kitchen where mothers turn the soup severally before putting it for their children and husband to the detriment of the house help who often times is served with the top of the soup or stew.
So, it will be full hardy and amounts to disservice if our clergy and churches in shear pretence and hypocrisy shy away from participating in politics knowing full well that they are required and expected to be part of the rebirth.
As we prepare for yet another election in the country and indeed Imo State, it is important to remind our various churches and clergy of that sacred duty of reshaping the masses who of course form the congregation you find in our various places of worship.
After all, which politician do not attend service in one place or the other? That is why we are reminding our various churches and clergy of the need to sensitize and reawaken the consciousness of the masses/electorate on the need to act aright.
They should in so doing also remind their congregation that all that glitters are not gold otherwise, we shall be repeating the political mistakes of the past where the masses were deceived on the face value of some political office seekers.
The church should also emphasize the fact that man do not live by bread alone. We should bid money politics goodbye and focus on the future of our nation and children.
It is unfortunate that here in Nigeria the masses are still being promised the provision of water, electricity and good road network.
This is ridiculous indeed and goes to prove the level of our civilization and development. Think of this; is the provision of water, electricity and good road network not some of the basic amenities and necessities of life?
Why should any right thinking person or government come out to boast that he is providing or going to provide these things when they are basic necessities of life?
The time for our churches to intervene and act aright is now as there may not be a better time for otherwise, we may be repeating the mistakes of the past which is an ill wind that blows no one any good.
Open Letter to Kalu on Ezeife’s Comment about Disintegration of Nigeria
Your Excellency, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, former Governor of Abia State, I write to you over a comment that was widely carried in the print and electronic media, credited to Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, a frontier Igbo leader like you, and a former governor of Anambra State, that Nigeria may fragment if President Goodluck Jonathan fails to win the 2015 presidential election.
Much as you believe in the unity of Nigeria and her welfare, such comment was not supposed to come from a high ranked and respected Igbo man like Ezeife. Not even anybody against the wish of buyers of an Igbo presidency, not in any other time, but in 2015. This is a country that you believe so much in, that justice can only come to play, except there is an Igbo presidency in 2015. But here is Ezeife aligning his comment against your project and prospection.
It behooves me to say that you should tell him that his comment betrays him as one Igbo who is against the Igbo cause, which you are spending your time and resources on. I do not want to say that Ezeife might be a traitor, just aligning with Jonathan for the paltry of contracts or lucre of appointment.
Invariably, his comment is glaringly selfish and he wants all Nigerians but in particular Ndigbo, to sink because of Jonathan’s ambition. Your Excellency, I knew that you hardly talk on such issues as they relate to the inglorious comment of Ezeife, because you are one man who talks with your head and rarely with your mouth.
If Ezeife is looking for political appointment, I earnestly want you to tell him as a brother, not to do that with the fate of Ndigbo and should stop making comments that are bent on jettisoning the project that Njiko Igbo has, which is Igbo Presidency in 2015.
Ezeife should not make Ndigbo to appear before the world like a people who are feeding from hand to mouth, if that is the state he is into now. Elderly people like Ezeife in Igbo-land do not trumpet for the younger ones. They only pray and bless and recommend a younger person who has paid his dues in line with the expectations of the people.
But I am not too sure where Jonathan has met with the expectation of Nigerians that should warrant Ezeife to be drumming for war. Tell him that a real man does not wake in the morning and just begin to host his guest without first making supplications to his ancestors and Chi for providing an avenue for a new lease of life.
Let Ezeife know that he has rarely contributed meaningfully to the growth of the country that should warrant his unedited statement. And apart from the fact that Jonathan is our president, let Ezeife tell the world one thing about Jonathan that he wants Nigeria to sink for should he not win the presidential election in 2015. Does Ezeife want to tell Ndigbo that Nigeria would also sink if the aspiration of Njiko comes to play in 2015?
Thank You.
By Odimegwu Onwumere, +2348057778358
