Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger, Most Reverend Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, Saturday, described the 8 years tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari as very challenging to Nigerians.
Ibezim slammed the outgoing administration, stating that it foisted all manner of hardship and suffering on the citizens of the country.
The Archbishop bared his mind on the Nigerian situation during the First Session of the 13th Synod which held at St Peter’s Church, Agulu, in Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State.
Delivering his Presidential charge, Ibezim said Nigeria, under the outgoing president, witnessed massive killings, kidnapping, looting and inflation.
He said the government failed to resolve the numerous agitations across the land, noting that even unemployment and hardship that he promised to address on assumption of office were never attended to.
His said: “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.
“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 appointment, 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.”
He however urged Nigerians to keep their hopes alive, assuring that a new Nigeria where justice, fairness, equity, peace and progress reign will emerge at the end.
Speaking further, Ibezim who doubles as the Bishop of Awka Diocese commended Nigerians for changing the campaign and voting narrative of the country despite the excruciating economic hardship.
He condemned INEC’s performance in the recent presidential election especially as regards the credibility of the process, noting that the institution failed the hope of millions of Nigerians.
The Anglican Prelate urged the incoming government to place the interest of the people above ethnicity and acrimony and stressed that a progressive city thrives on fairness and justice.
While Ibezim lauded the introduction of new naira notes, he knocked the Federal Government authorities for subjecting the people to intense hardship through poor circulation of the new notes.
He however urged the Central Bank Authorities to ensure adequate circulation of the the new notes to cushion the hardship it imposed on Nigerians.
