The Methodist bishop of Awka Diocese, Right Rev Moses Nwakanma has lamented what he described as the unimaginable and insensitive disposition of the ruling class to the sufferings and plights of Nigerians.
He regretted that the more the masses cry, complain, and agitate about the nation’s prevailing economic strangulation, the more the rulers develop thick skin.
Speaking in Awka during the plenary session of the 2024 synod of the Diocese, Nwakanma said the situation was more worrisome given the abundant human and material resources the country is blessed with.
He said, “I’m aware that many people will quickly remind me that the country has been a paradox of a real country. Just look at how divinely endowed and blessed the country has been yet it has turned into something close to a curse.
“The country is economically, politically, religiously, and socially bedeviled with myriads of man-made crisis and I began to wonder if there remains any humanity in our beings at all.
“Just ten months ago, they bamboozled us with the claims that they have removed subsidy and they tactfully succeeded but this unilateral decision has just roundly crippled the country.
“The claim was that trillions of naira would be saved from the fuel subsidy removal and it is getting close to one year since it was propagated that Nigeria would be better once the subsidy is removed.
“If I may ask, where have the monies being saved channeled to? Health, education, infrastructure, or salary increments? Where are employment opportunities? Are we faring better now as a people?
“Ironically, pains, agony, frustrations, hunger, and anger have been the portion of the masses instead.”
The Prelate appealed to political leaders, especially those from Southeast to return to their constituencies so the masses could feel the dividends of democracy.
“I heard again that they are withdrawing so-called subsidies on electricity when people are yet to recover from the ones they removed from fuel.
“The masses have not seen any gain except that few had more than enough to share and to waste in luxury.
“How would Nigerian manufacturers compete with their peers when you increase their payment for epileptic power supplied to them? Imagine diesel at close to N2,000 per liter, is it not a license for manufacturers to wind up business?
“It is provocatively painful. We need God’s intervention. I call on those we voted in, especially in the South East, from the state house to the green and red Chambers to please get back to their constituencies and make the masses feel the dividends of democracy,” he added.
While decrying the brazen way killers, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminals operate unhindered, the Bishop said it was more baffling how security apparatus were overwhelmed by the activities of the violent criminals.
“Justice in Nigeria is no longer for the poor; Nigerian court now appears to become the most hopeless place to go for in search of justice, especially as a poor person,” he noted.
The Bishop commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim on their quest to make Anambra a secure and clean state.
He also noted that the Governor had not relented in paying the workers as and when due.
While pledging the church’s continued commitment to partner with the state to make the state a better place to dwell, the Bishop, however, said the Governor needed to do more especially in the area of ridding the state of touts.
