With Uche Nnadozie
Apart from the interment of the very respected former vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme over the weekend in Oko, Ananmbra state, which dominated the news; another incident that competed for attention equally came from the funeral rites of the elder statesman through a cleric. Suffice it to say that the incident wasn’t a pleasant one and for me it is unbecoming for a religious leader to utter some of the messages he delivered. Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, took advantage of the funeral service to launch an attack on President Muhammadu Buhari’s government and other politicians over its failure to curb corruption and prescribing age limit for political office seekers.
Bishop Chukwuma, speaking at a service hinted that retirement age in politics is 70 years, hence Buhari must resign. This is one of the things people say that make one begin to question the correct mental stability of some of our leaders. It becomes worse when the leader is of the religious hue. These are people who prey on poor peoples’ miserly fortunes. But that’s a story for another day. In the good bishop’s mind, preaching against stopping a Nigerian from seeking public office on account of age is being “bold’’? Worse still, asking the president to resign from office on account of his age is playing to the gallery. What you are simply saying is that the people who voted for the president are fools. Those people do not have a choice and cannot express same.
The bishop also stated that Buhari’s government came into power through corruption, therefore, the reason it can’t fight corrupt practices in the country. He alleged that a minister was handed three ministries in order to recoup his contributions to the president during the campaigns. The man went on to berate South East governors. Chukwuma said politics played by the governors is based on selfishness, materialistic gains unlike the likes of Alex Ekwueme and Ojukwu whom he praised for their selflessness.
Hear him, “thus saith the Lord, set thy house in order for thou shalt die and not live. I don’t believe in 70 yrs , 70 years is the age of retirement. politicians are you hearing me? At Age 70, you have your passport to heaven’’. he went further to say, “the present government came through corruption, so it’s difficult to fight corruption. Those who stole money used it to campaign for presidency.
He equally weighed in on the herdsmen and farmers clashes and the question of colony. He declared, “South East will not tolerate any colony for Fulani herdsmen. Herdsmen should stay away; it’s a private business. Any governor that supports cattle colony will be resisted by Igbo and CAN. Audu Ogbeh should take them to Daura, the python dance we have here is enough’’.
I mean what sort of delinquency is this? So the bishop now arrogate to himself the authority to speak for the South East over government policies in such a manner that is filled with bile and resentment. He also brought in the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN as though this herdsmen issue is a religious matter. No, it is not and that is the worry. When things happen in Nigeria people begin to spin worrying sets of conspiracies. It looks worse when the people steeped in this prejudice are supposed leaders who have a voice. How do we resolve conflicts if all we do is bring in religion and ethnic bias at every turn. We are not capable of alternative thought than to brainwash our followers into a certain Armageddon.
Nigerians, including the good bishop have the right to freedom of expression. Nobody can abridge that. However, every right has responsibility. You cannot use the “immunity’’ of the pulpit to make wild allegations against people. It is sinful to bear false witness. And in our clime where clerics are seen as next to God and are mistakenly portrayed as saying things that God manifested to them, it is dangerous to then play one religion against a group of people. By declaring that CAN will not allow herders into the South East, you make it look like the South East is owned by CAN. Yet the Nigerian constitution guarantees freedom of movement.
Making these sorts of hateful innuendos in a gathering to honour Ekwueme is disrespectful in many ways. Ekwueme was never a champion of ethnic bias. He was never intolerant of other religions. Yes, he acknowledged that Nigeria has problems like every other country on earth, what he did instead was to try find solutions. During the height of military rule under Sani Abacha, the lot fell on him to plot a route to democracy and he discharged that with uncommon patriotism. This led to the founding of PDP. In PDP after he was played like football, people expected him to quit the party but he didn’t. he stuck in and ensured victory of his party and the survival of democracy.
Since then he has worked with many to enhance his belief in Nigeria. Seeking peace and bringing people together. Prior to this time, he had in 1995 suggested the six zones we now have as a pathway to peaceful coexistence. He also talked about rotational presidency. It is not in memory of such a Nigerian giant will a religious and ethnic bigot foul in a vainglorious attempt to play to the gallery.
