Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, the Emeritus Archbishop of the Anglican Arch-Diocese of Enugu, has urged political leaders at all levels to declare a state of emergency on poverty.
Chukwuma made the call in a Christmas message he issued on Wednesday in Enugu.
The archbishop noted that there was a need to tackle the menace of poverty, which naturally leads to hunger, headlong.
He said that the various stampedes in places where they give free food palliatives in parts of the country could be avoided, if issues of poverty and its attendant fallouts were dealt with holistically and permanently.
The cleric said, “The recent incidents and loss of scores of lives remained a huge embarrassment to us as individual Nigerians and collectively as a nation.
“The latest unfortunate incidents, which I personally commiserate with individuals, families and communities involved, call for a national action from the community to the Presidential levels on how to rescue our people from poverty and hunger.”
According to him, it is sad that many people and homes in the country will have a sad and sober Christmas owing to the unfortunate stampedes.
On Christmas, Chukwuma called on Christians to celebrate with sober reflection due to the recent sad incidents and hard times in the country.
He urged Christians to use this period to draw closer to God because Jesus Christ is coming soon to judge the world.
He said, “Nigerians should love one another and eschew bitterness.
“Our politicians should remember the poor in their constituencies and plan developmental programmes that will help the people live above poverty and hunger.”
