The Methodist Church, Nigeria has urged President Bola Tinubu to be magnanimous in victory and initiate a clear- cut process of healing the wounds in the hearts of many Nigerians through a sincere process of reconciliation, national unity and integration.
In a communique issued at the end of the 40th Annual Council of Bishops held at the Wesley Cathedral, Uwani, Enugu, with the theme: Contending for the faith, the Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Oliver Ali Aba, adviced President Bola Tinubu to provide the dividends of democracy to the people, while also noting with concern the spate of insecurity in the country and called on the three tiers of Government to find a lasting solution to it so that the people can go about their businesses peacefully.
“However, Council frowns at the current spate of moral decadence and the decline in the moral and ethical values of our contemporary society as expressed in digital and cyber crimes amongst other ills: and decried it as an existential threat to our “Africaness.” Consequently, the Council in session calls for National Ethical Renewal; so as to restore and revive our cherished and age-long ethical principles and values”. Aba said.
While acknowledging some of the hitches, alleged discrepancies and complaints about the conduct and eventual results of the 2023 General Elections, the Bishops in Council saluted the courage of the aggrieved contestants in the Elections who have chosen the way of Peace by going to the Election Petition Tribunal to challenge the process and outcome of the election through legal redress; and called on the Judiciary to objectively look at the merits of each case in her decision-making process.
“Furthermore, the Bishops in Council acknowledge the various efforts of the Federal Government in her attempt to curb the various violent crises across the Country that have maimed and sent many Nigerians to their early graves; and calls on the government at the centre to be more proactive in handling the issue. Consequently, the Council enjoins the government to look into the idea of the formation of State Police so as to reduce the spate of the incessant killings of harmless Nigerians by the alleged insurgents, militants and terrorists”. Aba noted
On the current wave of hardship and the rate of unemployment amongst Nigeria teaming youths, which have resulted in many of the young people dying on the high seas and the deserts in their attempts to cross over to Europe and other parts of the world in desires for greener pasture; the Council called on the three tiers of Government to frontally confront the issue and create a conducive environment for job creation and employment opportunities.
“Lastly, the Bishops in Council while applauding the decision of the Federal Government on the removal of the petroleum products subsidy, admonishes the goverment to develop a heart of milk-like kindness by putting up some implementable palliatives so as to reduce the current hardship of the ordinary Nigerians”. Aba stated
The Council, consequently, prayed that God creates in the hearts of all Christian people the anxious spirit that burns with the great desire to defend the Faith that was once delivered to the Church by the Apostles, and also called on the Faith Community to wake up from her dogmatic slumber in defense of the Faith in times of A need
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