Fides Media Living the Faith
By Ikeugonna Eleke
The Archbishop of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Dr Alexander Ibezim, has said that the Regime of the outgoing President, Muhammadu Buhari, was fraught with several challenges to Nigerians.
The Archbishop spoke while delivering his presidential charge last weekend during the 1st Session of the 13th Synod of the Awka Diocese of the Church which held at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.
He said Buhari’s Government inflicted all manners of hardship and suffering on Nigerians, including killings, kidnapping, looting, inflation, unemployment and other forms of hardship.
The Archbishop said, ‘These eight years have been very challenging. The administration was marked with incessant killings, kidnappings, unresolved agitations, looting and inflation, increased rate of unemployment and hardship, lopsided appointments and fuel scarcity.
‘The people are yet to breathe the air of democracy. Our politicians show little or no interest in the people they are supposed to be representing. The people are tired and they are yearning for a new Nigeria.
‘Nigeria, as a nation, is blessed by God with human and material resources which ought to be utilised for the good of the people, but unfortunately, the resources that are meant for the benefit of all have been hijacked by few in authority.’
He added the introduction of new Naira notes as one of Buhari’s failed policies which further plunged the people into suffering. Though the Archbishop said the policy was good, he noted that poor circulation marred it.
Bishop Ibezim urged the Central Bank to ensure adequate circulation of the new notes before the 31st December deadline so as to avoid subjecting the people to another phase of suffering.
The Archbishop told Nigerians to keep their hopes alive, while commending the pattern of voting in the last election as championed by the youths.
He said, ‘A new Nigeria where justice, fairness, equity, peace and progress reign will emerge at the end.’
He also gave knocks to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its performance in the recent Presidential Election, saying that the institution dashed the hopes of millions of Nigerians.
The Anglican prelate urged the incoming government to place the interest of the people above ethnicity and acrimony, stressing that a progressive Nation would thrive on fairness and justice.