By Adesina Soyooye
A Nigerian Cleric has done the unprecedented. In protest against the state of the Nigerian Nation, His Lordship, the Anglican Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Ndubusi Chukwuka Obi, has banned the singing of the National Anthem as well as the hoisting of Nigerian flag in Churches under his jurisdiction – Nnewi Anglican Diocese.
Usually, during big events in Churches, especially, when a State Governor is present, the National Anthem is played. And the Nigerian flag, as well as other flags, necessary for the event are hoisted.
Many people are wondering, for instance, what the Bishop would do during such occasions. But His Lordship probably does not care. He seems to have had it upto his neck.
Those who know him say he has never hidden his shock at the state of the Nation, or his disappointment in the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration. He has been critical of the Federal Government, and spoken strongly on the need for the restructuring of the country.
The Bishop, according to reports, explained that he took the unusual step of banning both the singing of the National Anthem, and the hoisting of the Nigerian Flag to protest what he described as the President’s maladministration of the country. He says there is no leadership. And there is no direction.
Said the Bishop:“Nigeria has become more divided in President Buhari’s administration. In every part of Nigeria, there is agitation for either secession or injustice. President Buhari has failed woefully, he has redefined the concept of leadership in Nigeria.
“If you look at the pattern of appointment, a part of Nigeria is always favoured in appointments. What our President runs in Nigeria is government of the Fulani by the Fulani and for the Fulanis.
“People are no longer comfortable being in Nigeria, and the worst of it all is that you cannot even protest or talk against the government, everybody is afraid”
The Bishop also abhorred the deployment of the Army in the South-east, and the manner, he alleged, the troops subject the citizens to inhuman treatment and all sorts of humiliations.
However, opinion in some quarters is that the Bishop, by his action, is disrespecting Nigeria as a country, and could have found another way to express his anger instead of banning the singing of the National Anthem and the hoisting of the Nigerian Flag in his Diocese.
By this action, Bishop Obi has gone the way of the detained Muslim Cleric, El-Zakzaky and his sect, Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN). They nether sing the National Anthem, say the National pledge, nor recognise the Nigerian Flag.
