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NIGERIA: Don't Let Evil Men Grab Power Again - Primate Akinola
Daily Champion (Lagos)
By Adelani Ashamu Abuja
ABUJA (6/27/2006)---Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Most Rev. Peter Akinola has advised Nigerians to reject evil and corrupt political office seekers in 2007.
He said such evil and corrupt men now parading themselves to be given the chance to return to power again must be rejected because they failed in the past when they had the opportunity.
The Primate stated this yesterday in Abuja at a press briefing to usher in the first National Conference of the Church of Nigeria which begins Thursday June 29, and ends on Friday June 30.
He said "Nigerians should reject evil and corrupt men from getting power. We know them and should not pretend that we don't know them. What did they do with the power they had before now? They were in position before but all they could achieve is to destroy our railways, aviation. These people are evil".
He said that previous leaders in the country have stolen more money to the extent of building financial empires all over the place and as such should go to their farms rather than coming to ask for another mandate.
"Nigeria does not need evil and corrupt people to lead them any more. We need honest, sincere and patriotic people to rule and one of the ways to show we have repented is to reject these evil men".
He said the present administration has done a lot to redeem the nation from the destruction previous regimes had placed it to the point that even the achievement so far made in seven years seem not to be seen.
This government has done a lot in seven years to return the country back on track but the fact is that the problems are legion, he said."
The bishop added that the fight is not serious enough in that it is limited to only mentioning names, noting that almost none of the so called corrupt people has been put behind bars since the fight.
He said Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has failed in the fight against corruption. The organization has not mustered enough courage to deal with the question of corruption.
On the national conference whose theme is "Welfare of the Nigerian Nation: role of the Anglican Communion in Nation Building", he said the church intends to rediscover and celebrate the contributions of the Anglican forebears in the development of the nation.
"Our rediscovery will lead us to challenge the leadership of our generation, what contribution and legacy it seeks to leave for future generations", he said.
Archbishop Akinola stated that the aptness of the conference at this time is informed in that the Anglican Communion found out that after 47 years of independence, the great vision of Nigeria's founding fathers is still lost in the wilderness of greed, corruption and self seeking motives.
He said "our rediscovery tells us that after 47 years of independence in this country, the great vision of our founding fathers is lost in the wilderness of greed, corruption and self seeking that pervades almost every facet of our national life".
He said due to this situation, the Anglican Church in Nigeria is perplexed because the virtues of hardwork, integrity, honesty and patriotism that the nation's founding fathers exemplified seem to be lost in these "perilous days".
Some eminent Nigerians, expected at the conference include Chief Ernest Shonekan, former head of state, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Austin Opara and Mr. Silas Yisa, Director General, National Broadcasting Commission.
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