Nigeria’s Problem Is Within Us – Bishop Okorafor

By George Best Okoroh

Those condemning brain drain and the spate at which Nigerians jet out for greener pastures should have a rethink, pause and help to advocate  a system that will promote meritocracy and not mediocrity.

This has become necessary as the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Egbu, Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Enyinnaya Okorafor brought to the fore the nagging human errors responsible for such exodus of human brains.

Bishop Okorafor  who juxtaposed the performances of diaspora Nigerians to their counterparts within the shores of the country in his Presidential Address to the Third Session of the Ninth Synod of the Diocese, held at Christ Anglican Church, Emeabiam, Owerri West LGA, Imo State, painted a picture of same seeds on different soils—the good and the bad. Delivering the charge on the the theme “Honour To A Father And A Master But Denying God Honour And Reverence ( Malachi 1:6 ) An Error”, Bishop Okorafor posited that man-made circumstances in Nigeria were setting the nation and its people back.

“Nigerians abroad doing great and making exploits in every aspect of human endeavours be it Science, Technology,  Medical Science, Arts and Literature, Entrepreneurship etc have brought fame and respect for Nigeria because they live outside the shores of Nigeria. If they were  here, circumstances beyond them would have brought them down, stressing that ” these circumstances are within us and are responsible for our setback”.

The Anglican Prelate lamented the spate of  tribalism, ethno-religious factors, political deceit, corruption at all levels of our national life, unpatriotic nationals both leaders and the led, inconsistency in the country’s  national policies, lopsidedness in the share of the nation’s commonwealth, appointments, mediocrity as against meritocracy as the bane of Nigeria’s woes, and underscored that Nigeria as never before has witnessed the highest level of ethnicity and tribalism under the present administration in the country. He furthe noted that assessment of appointments under President Muhammadu Buhari’s watch were indicative of a high level of lopsidedness along ethnic and religious divide, and challenged “Fellow Nigerians, as you go to the polls in 2023, shine your eyes and vote wisely. May God help Nigeria and Nigerians”.

To the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC )Bishop Okorafor urged the body to prove itself an independent commission indeed by not being bias in the conduct and declaration of results in the forthcoming elections.

The Bishop  frowned at the selective dispensation of justice in the country; and stressed that the Judiciary, an arm of any democratic government is expected to be the last hope of the common man and advocated allowing the Judiciary  to have its budget, control its budget and take decisions that concern it where necessary without interference from the Executive arm. “We live in a society where he who pays the piper dictates the tune and expressed worry that until  the Judiciary is free from the shackles of being controlled by the Executive arm of government, it will continue to be in bondage”.

While maintaining that the Judiciary appeared  being muzzled up in the country cited cases involving the former boss of Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC ) Ibrahim Magu ( alleged to be involved in money londering ), the former  Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosu ( said to be indicted for forgery ) and more recently the former Accountant General of the Federation ,Ahmed Idris( accused of embezzlement of over a hundred and fifty billion naira) to buttress the need for the full autonomy of the judiciary while also revealing the unserious nature of the present administration’s commitment to the fight against corruption.

The Anglican Prelate urged that focus should be on what is right and not who is right in taking decisions affecting the generality of the citizens,  cautioning Nigerian politicians to shun absolute loyalty  to the party. “Our interest  should focus on the Nigerian nation and its development not on our different political parties. These parties will fizzle out one day. The country remains”, he warned.