The Bishop of the Anglican Communion, Diocese of Oleh, His Lordship Rt. Revd. John Usiowoma Aruakpor has condemned the prospect of the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress(APC) that produced Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu and ex-Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, as a slap on Christianity in Nigeria.
He made this known when he delivered his Bishop Charge during the 2nd Session of the 8th Synod of the Oleh Diocese of the Anglican Communion that was held at the St. Paul Anglican Church, Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Bishop Aruakpor stated that “In a sane nation where there is no mutual suspicion, religious affiliation/tribe ought not to be an issue in who should rule a country. But in a country such as Nigeria where a particular people/religion claim to be superior and to be the only people granted the right to rule, it becomes an insensitive thing and a slap on Christianity for the APC Presidential flagbearer to go ahead despite all the criticisms to pick a fellow Muslim as running mate.
He opined that the action gives credence to the rumours making the rounds that there is a grand plan of Fulanisation of the country, noting that “as a Diocese, we commend those Christians that have taken the bull by the horn in throwing in the towel by resigning their membership of the APC in protest.”
He added that all well-meaning Christians should be courageous enough and do the needful, saying that church leaders should sensitize their members of the danger that this trend portends.
In the area of security in the country, Bishop Aruakpor stated that “the last seven years have witnessed sordid and squalid increase in the area of insecurity. We have equally learnt new vocabularies such as Bandits, Unknown Gunmen, Fulani Herdsmen, Kidnappers, Yahoo plus and a lot more.
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“Our take on this is that either the Federal Government have been overwhelmed by the situation they have always claimed to be in control of, or they are deliberately looking the other way from the issue which make them culpable of what is happening.”
He lamented that “A situation where innocent citizens are languishing in the den of these criminals for years with the government making us to believe that they are working with no tangible result and bandits could gather intelligence and storm a prison to free their fellow criminals without resistance is very worrisome.”
The Bishop also noted that Nigeria happens to be one of the most celebrated corrupt countries in the world, “noting that when APC came on board with their campaign slogan and promised to bring change and fight corruption, most people were carried away and APC succeeded in winning their sympathy which brought them to power. Unfortunately, what is on ground today is a far cry from what they promised.
“The unfolding scenarios in the political sector have forced the church to suddenly realize her civic role in the country, urging Christians in the country to wake up from their sleep and do the needful, by registering as voters, collecting their permanent voter’s cards and ensure they vote aright in the forthcoming general elections. He urged the populace to fight against all the associated electoral evils. While calling on the Federal Government and the relevant bodies to provide a level playing ground for all players, and also ensure that vote buying is stamped out of the system.
He appealed to the Delta State Government led by Dr Ifeanyi Okowa to look into the plight of retirees/pensioners, stating that, the issue of gratuity and pension has been a recurring decimal all over the country, particularly in Delta State.
According to him, it has left many who have faithfully laboured for their fatherland to suffer untold hardship and many deaths, saying that, this present administration will write their name in gold if they take the bull by the horn to clear outstanding debts accruing to retirees and pensioners.
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