500 bishops vow to join G7 governors

The Bishops and Eminent Clerics Forum of Nigeria, Niger Delta chapter, has vowed to join the G7 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors to end “impunity in national institutions.” The group said that it would no longer fold its hands, and allow few individuals to run Nigeria into tribal and religious war based on religion affiliation. The leader of the group, His Eminence, Jones Ode Eruie, made the disclosure, yesterday in Yola during his visit to Governor Murtala Nyako. He said that the traditional institution in the country has failed completely by engaging in partisan politics which has made it impossible for them to call leaders that are beating war drums to order, because of selfish interest. He revealed that 500 clergymen in the country, under his organisation have dedicated their lives to fight for the unity of the country stressing that they are ready to sacrifice their lives in the struggle because they would go against the powers that be in the process of pointing accusing fingers. “We are bishops, the highest body in the Christendom and we have enlisted no fewer than 500 bishops to champion our cause. As stakeholders in the Nigeria Project, we are troubled in our minds with the situation in the country and without mincing words, our traditional rulers have failed us by routing themselves to tools of politicians. We clergymen have made up our minds to join forces in the crusade with those who are fighting impunity in the nation’s interest.” The leader of the group said that one of the reasons they visited Governor Nyako in their consultation process was because of the leadership trait he displayed as a detribalised Nigerian, adding that when Nyako was a young man, he joined the military to protect the sovereignty of the nation and as a political leader, he also championed war against impunity in the country. “You chose Amaechi, a young man from Niger Delta, to join forces and fight impunity in our country. We were challenged as religious leaders that we must protect the country and join forces with you to fight enemies of democracy that are leading the country to doom. “We Christians believe that there are three judgments: Judgment of the people, judgment of prosperity and judgment of God. We don’t want God to condemn us because we have only one life to live and that is why we stand by you in the fight against evil.” He reiterated that religious leaders in the country are tired of politicians who have been using ethnic, tribal and religious sentiments to promote their evil agenda to the detriment of the larger interest of the country. He, however, blamed the government for using police and other government apparatus undemocratically to victimise their perceived enemies, stressing that as men of God, they will stand in the way of such politicians. According to him, “Nigeria has two laws and one of them is selective. Olagunsoye Oyinlola was removed as the National Secretary of the PDP, based on court judgment and another man was sworn-in less than 24 hours. When another court reinstated him, the second law applied, as they refused to honour the court order. I met somebody in Ghana when I went for a seminar who told me that Nigeria has invented a new mathematics formula, where five is greater than 27 and 16 is greater than 19.” In his response, Nyako said that the religious leaders must supplement prayers with action. He blamed the extension of the emergency rule in the state on the hand work of “the evil few” Abuja politicians from the state, who are hell bent on causing calamity and destruction in the state. The Governor said the people of Adamawa State are tired with moving alongside the evil men, who will never be tired of causing havoc and calamities in the state and the nation at large. From Sunday NEwswatch