…..urges FG to seek foreign assistance to address insecurity
By Kenneth Onuoha
365Daily – The Anglican Diocese of Enugu has said the Federal Government proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is not a terrorist group but a group of agitators fighting for fairness and equity.
It condemned the worsening security situation in Nigeria, urging the Federal Government to step up its strategies.
Furthermore, it advised that the government should immediately seek the assistance of the international community in the fight against insurgency and other uprisings in the country.
These formed part of the communique issued after the 1st Session of the 18th Synod of the Diocese, which held at the Emmanuel Church, Achara Layout, Enugu.
The communique was signed by the Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, the Archbishop and Bishop of Enugu; Ven. Dr. Stanley Nweze, Synod Secretary; Prof. Offornze Amucheazi, Chancellor of the Diocese and H.B.C. Ogboko, the Registrar.
The Church said it was concerned about the rising insecurity in the country, as manifested in the activities of “unknown gunmen, unscrupulous activities of Fulani herdsmen armed with AK47, kidnappers and bandits.”
The Synod called on the Federal Government to ensure that all criminal elements faced the law irrespective of religion, tribe or ethnicity.
It also condemned the attacks on public infrastructure and Police Stations and the accompanying killings, especially in the South-east, and urged the security agents to fish out the perpetrators
“The Synod notes that IPOB is not a terrorist organisation, but are agitators for fairness and equity. The Synod urges the Federal Government to dialogue with various groups agitating for self determination in Nigeria, such as IPOB and others with a view to addressing issues surrounding the agitations.
“The Synod, however, condemns the attacks by soldiers and other security agents on innocent citizens of the Southeast and urges the security agents to exhibit professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
“The Synod urges the Federal Government to seek assistance from the International Community towards ensuring that peace is restored in the country,” the communique added.
On open-grazing, it welcomed the recent ban on open cattle grazing by the Governors of the Southern States of Nigeria, noting that it was in support for the adoption of the modern technique of cattle ranching as a panacea for the incessant invasion of farmers and farmlands by marauding herdsmen.
“The Synod commends the moves by the National Assembly to effect further amendments to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). The Synod, however, recommends that Nigeria needs a brand new Constitution that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of the teeming populace of this great country.
“The Synod decries the continued lopsidedness in the Federal Government’s appointments into public offices, which have continued unabated since the inception of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari till date.
“The Synod frowns against the Federal Government’s continued marginalisation of the South East Region in Federal appointments in spite of the Federal Character Clause in Section 14 (3) of the Constitution. The Synod therefore calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately reverse this trend.
“The Synod is burdened with the predominance of persons from a particular religious denomination in Enugu State Government’s appointments into public offices to the detriment of other denominations, particularly the Anglican Communion.
“The Synod enjoins the Government of Enugu State to ensure equitable and fair distribution of appointments among the religious denominations in the State and also plead that the mission schools be returned to the church.
“The Symod joins in the widespread condemnation of the twitter ban and planned social media regulation by the government of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Synod emphatically states that the said Twitter ban has impacted negatively on the economic and social lives of the vast majority of Nigerians and the planned social media regulation if carried into effect will aggravate the situation.
“The synod reminds the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that the said Twitter ban and planned social media regulation violate the fundamental rights of Nigerians as guaranteed by 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Article 19 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights,” the Church further stated.