By Charles Onyekwere
Governor Chukwuma Soludo says criminals terrorizing Anambra State are fighting to enthrone idol worship over Christianity.
Professor Soludo stated this at the Second Session of the Sixth Synod of Anglican Diocese of Aguata, held at St James’ Church, Nanka, Orumba North Local Government Area on Sunday.
He said it was time for Christians in the state to unite to defend their faith in the face of evil, and quest to intimidate the people back into idolatry.
He said: “The last institution those causing mayhem in the state want to exterminate is the church, but they will not succeed. “Anambra is a Christian state, and will never succumb to idolatry.”
There has been a resurgence of traditionalists in the state recently, with many youths resorting to fetish practices that have long been abandoned by their forefathers. Soludo had earlier stated in a statewide broadcast that part of the strategy of the criminals was to instill fear in people, through traditional religious practices, which involve swearing people Gov Chukwuma Soludo By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri Elder statesman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has advised Nigerians to always demonstrate the spirit of brotherhood and religious tolerance in order to safeguard the nation’s unity and corporate existence.
He gave the advice while addressing the national leadership of Inter-Faith Youth Council of Nigeria (IFYCN). It was at the presentation of the 2022 InterFaith Youth Council of Nigeria Outstanding Peace Award to him as an “Icon of National and Societal Development” in his office in Owerri, Imo State capital.
The frontline industrialist and publisher of Daily Champion Newspapers enjoined Nigerian leaders to eschew religious bitterness, acrimony and hate in the conduct of their official and personal activities in whatever positions they find themselves in the society. According to him, the founding fathers of the country built the foundation of Nigeria on love, peace, harmony and mutual Bernard Odoh Prof Wole Soyinka tolerance which led to the rapid development of the nation when the colonial masters left the country.
Engr. Iwuanyanwu, who is the chairman of Ohanaeze Ndígbo Elders Council, urged the youths to emulate the spirit of the founding fathers of Nigeria which centred on peaceful coexistence, religious tolerance and love pointing out that “no nation or society develops in an atmosphere of suspicion and intolerance.”
The Ohanaeze chieftain, who bemoaned the increasing spate of killing, kidnapping, and unrest in the country blamed the ugly trend on lack of positive orientation of the youths as well as lack of job opportunities among other socio-economic challenges.
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Presenting the 2022 InterFaith Youth Council of Nigeria Award to Chief Iwuanyanwu, the President of the Association, Ambassador Tunde Adams, said the award was in recognition of Chief Iwuanyanwu’s unalloyed commitment and unequal contribution to peace and human development as an outstanding distinguished personality in Nigeria.
Mr Tunde Adams described Chief Iwuanyanwu as a man of peace and excellence, an indisputable Nigerian flag weaver, a quintessence of good leadership who has given so much to the empowerment of the youths in Nigeria and beyond.
He said that he is a man whose didactic personality is pedestal upon which the vision of Nigeria as a nation can be realized.
The IFYCN President said that at a time when Nigerian youth are facing deprivation and relegation from national scheme of affairs, Chief Iwuanyanwu has continued to exhibit youth friendly disposition, humane care to all who come to him as well as to display unmatched nationalistic leadership style that has given the youth a renewed hope as leaders of tomorrow.
The youth leader maintained that Chief Iwuanyanwu symbolizes the apt saying of late Sardauna of Sokoto Ahmadu Bello of blessed memory in which he said that “if men of wisdom will refuse to write justice with black ink on white paper, ignorant men will lead and wrath injustice and anarchy in the land.” to oaths, and human sacrifices. Soludo addressing the church however stated that following his recent declaration of state of emergency on criminal elements operating in the state, security forces are already taking the war squarely to the hideouts of those terrorizing the state, and most have been arrested.
“The quest to secure Anambra State is a collective fight. I urge ndi Anambra to report activities of those who have seen criminality in the state as a lucrative enterprise. “Despite scanty resources, we are determined to give ndi Anambra a state to be proud of,” Soludo assured.
