By Stanley Nwanosike
Enugu, Jan. 3, 2023
The Anglican Archbishop of Enugu Archdiocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, has urged government at all levels to tackle insecurity, to reinvigorate agricultural activities in the country.
Chukwuma, in a statement in Enugu on Monday, noted that Nigerians should not have any business with hunger, since the country’s soil and weather were well suited for massive agricultural activities.
According to him, Nigeria as a country has nothing doing with food inflation and hunger as we are so blessed and endowed in the area of agricultural production more than most nations in the world.
“We thank God for seeing us through 2022 with its challenges and complexities; and we believe God for a Prosperous 2023 if we will correct some mistakes of 2022.
“Our people should return to the farms and other agricultural activities to checkmate the spate of hunger and high cost of food items in the market.
“However, government at all levels must do more in terms of ensuring security for farmers.
“There are marauders and other nefarious elements disturbing the peace of most agrarian communities in the country.
“It is quite unfortunate that peasant and small scale farmers are subjected to food or agricultural produce tax in their villages and localities in some parts of the country,” he said.
The cleric also urged the government to ensure that there would be industrial harmony in the nation’s educational institutions.
“Issues leading to prolonged strikes should be avoided by all parties.
“Youths, who are the future leaders, should never be neglected or their future used in settling scores,” he said.
Chukwuma called on well meaning Nigerians and the government to make concerted efforts to check medical brain drain by equipping medical facilities and giving medical workers better remuneration.
“I want us to stop this idea of not paying or under-paying medical practitioners that have decided to stay put in the country and help us all,” he said.
He warned political office holders against stealing from the public coffers, especially monies appropriated to provide amenities and services to the masses.
“Our public office holders should strive to make the country better and ensure that those facilities they find overseas meant to make the people’s lives better are brought home,” he said.
The archbishop urged Nigerians of voting age, yet to collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC), to do so without delay.
According to him, 2023 is a decisive year; and every Nigerian should seize the opportunity that the elections provide.
“Get your PVC ready to make the desired change and the New Nigeria, we have been yearning for, possible.
“You cannot keep complaining and during the time (for election) you are given the opportunity to be part of the real change, you are sleeping or indifferent,” he added.
