Bishop Says Buhari Heeds No Call; Nigerians Suffering And Smiling |The Source

By Charles Igbo

President Muhammadu Buhari has been dismissed as a man who heeds to no call from the people who elected him into office.

The Bishop of Egbu Diocese, Anglican Communion, His Lordship, The Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Okorafor, made the assertion on Friday, while delivering the Presidential Address/Charge, at the First Session of the Ninth Synod, holding at the Anglican  Church of Pentecost, New Owerri, Imo State.

Okorafor, also, asked the President to quit as the Minister of Petroleum, describing his continued retention of the office as unfair, wondering if Nigeria is a civilian democracy or a military dictatorship.

Withholding The Petroleum Ministry

Said the Bishop: ” We, also, call on the President to urgently appoint a Minister for Petroleum. If he is the Minister for Petroleum, he should boldly and openly inform Nigerians. He has no reason to withhold the office of Petroleum Minister, as the past years of placing the office on hold have not yielded any fruitful dividend.

Things rather continue to fall apart in the oil sector; continued hike in prices of Petroleum products with reckless abandon.”

Military Dictatorship

He continued: ” Sometimes, one is tempted to ask if ours is indeed a civilian democracy or still a military dictatorship. How does one view the irregular availability of Kerosene, which is a household need of every home in the country, whether rich or poor. Kerosene has become the most expensive product in a country that ranks fifth largest producer and exporter of petroleum in the globe. Something must be wrong somewhere.

“We are applying the same solution to our problem all the year round, and yet expecting a change. Not possible. The need for an immediate review of our system of operation cannot be over-stressed.

Mr President, Let Your Conscience Play It’s  Role

He chided the President for the continued stay in office of Service Chiefs for six years and counting.

Okorafor: “A lot of criticisms has emanated as to his continued  refusal to overhaul the security architecture of the country. Service Chiefs are now at their wits end, and need to be replaced. Mr President, be reminded that you were elected by the people in a democracy, and you swore to uphold the principles of democracy guided by the constitution of Nigeria.  Conscience should play a very important role in our system. Let your conscience  play its role in your leadership style in Nigeria.”

Suffering And Smiling

Bemoaning the state of insecurity in the country, His Lordship said: ” Nigeria has been ranked the leading terrorist country in Africa. From banditory to armed robbery, from kidnapping to the menace of Boko Haram the situation has remained unabated, leading to the loss of lives ones by families, and plunged such families into hardship as some of the deceased persons are their families’ bread winners. Nigerians are seen as the most suffering and most patient people in the whole world. Suffering and smiling. Very unfortunate.

Mr President Heeds To No Calls

Bishop Okorafor chided both the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, and the Speaker of the House of a Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, for praising the President for heeding to the calls to ban the Special Anti- Robbery Squad, SARS. He disagreed with them, insisting:

“Buhari is about completing the second year of his second tenure.

“He has flatly refused to heed to the calls of several eminent Nigerians across the entire country to consider the need for the restructuring of the Nigerian system. Millions of Naira were spent on the 2014 Constitutional Conference that recommended the need for restruction. Why he has refused to heed to this call, still remains a puzzle.

“Little wonder many Nigerians, both old and young, enlightened and unenlightened, take the announcement by the Inspector General of Police banning SARS with a pinch of salt because Mr President, since his assumption of office, has never heeded to any call.

” We call on him again, alongside many other calls to consider the need for a restructuring of the country’s system”

The Synod ends on Sunday.