Quit politics now, Bishop tells Anenih, Tukur, others
The Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma has berated old politicians in the country, saying they are clogs in the wheel of political progress in the country.
He also decried the attitude of the Enugu State Government in returning the Catholic schools in the state to the mission and gazetting them while those of the Anglican were not gazetted.
The bishop who expressed dismay over this situation in Enugu yesterday as part of preparations for the forthcoming second session of the 15th Synod of the Enugu Anglican Communion slated to kick off at St Bartholomew’s Church, Asata, therefore, called for the banning of persons above 65 years from holding political offices to save the country’s democracy.
He argued that the use of over-aged politicians rather than lead to the entrenchment of democratic virtues, sees the “retired and tired hands” that lead political parties, causing confusion and stagnating the polity.
He noted that the crisis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was traceable to over-aged politicians, describing the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, and the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, are “expired politicians.”
He, therefore, advised them to quit, adding that their continued stay in office was the source of crisis in the party. Chukwuma said that 14 years in the current democratic march, Nigerians should learn how to accept the realities of the time.
“We cannot continue to recycle politicians and people who ordinarily should be in their homes and resting after serving their fatherland. This is the major problem this democracy has faced and the sooner we begin to accept the reality, the better for the country,” he insisted.
Speaking on the theme of the Synod: “Overcoming the Challenges of the Time,” he said it was apt, following the many challenges facing the country since independence, especially in the past 14 years.
His words: “The church is concerned because Nigeria is in a serious dilemma. Politicians, who are not even sure that they would serve out their remaining two years, are heating the polity. There is the challenge of endemic corruption.
“The church is concerned about the security situation in the country especially the killings by the Boko Haram in the North, kidnappings and several others, we are concerned about the measures taken by the Jonathan-led administration to tackle the situation and we will make further suggestions on how we think he can strengthen his efforts.
“There are challenges facing our political parties, especially the PDP which has been ruling in the past 14 years and yet we are not making any progress. We want to deliberate on all these and come up with a solution and way forward.”
He said that poverty; unemployment and the near lack of confidence in the judiciary were other challenges the country was grappling with, saying the Synod would make far-reaching decisions and suggestions on how the country could solve the problems.
The bishop commended President Goodluck Jonathan for declaring state of emergency in some states in the North, even as he advocated for more attention to security.
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