By VINCENT UJUMADU
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AWKA—THE Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger, Most Rev Christian Efobi, weekend faulted former military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, on the statements credited to him over the 2015 presidential election, regretting that such statements were capable of threatening the nation’s democracy.
Efobi, who spoke with newsmen after he was honoured by the people of Oyi at St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Ogbunike in Anambra State, said Nigeria needed peace to be able to develop, adding that wanting to become president of Nigeria should not be a matter of life and death.
Efobi said: “It is very unfortunate that a man of Buhari’s standing, who should be a statesman, is making such unguarded utterances. One wonders how he would have felt if he was the one in power and Jonathan was making such comments.
“The church is very displeased with his utterances and this is not what a leader should say. He knows he is a very influential person and such comments can be very inciting.
The cleric said the church would continue to pray for the country over the violence in parts of the North, but called on politicians to be mindful of their utterances to avoid causing more trouble.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the South East zone of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma of Enugu Diocese, said the association would organise a summit on 2015 presidential election to chart a course for the Igbo nation .
Chukwuma said it was unfortunate that while other groups were already talking and positioning themselves for the 2015 presidential election, Igbos were merely watching and expecting magic to happen.
According to him, rather than put heads together to find a way forward for the zone, Igbo leaders were busy quarrelling among themselves and fighting to become traditional rulers in cities where they reside.
He said: “We quarrel all the time among ourselves and nothing is achieved. While others are planning to move their areas forward and position their zones for 2015, our people are busy causing trouble for ourselves, including fighting to become traditional rulers in northern and western cities, something the North and South West people do not do in places they are residing. CAN will therefore plan a summit for the Igbos so as to decide how to go about 2015 presidential election.”
Preaching a sermon at the well attended thanksgiving service, the retired Archbishop of Aba Anglican Province, Most Rev Ugochukwu Ezeoke, commended the people of Oyi Anglican community for honouring Efobi who is from the area, adding that it was a rare privilege for a community to have one of its own as an Archbishop.
National chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, said Christians would continue to preach peace and unity of the country, adding that it was the only way the nation could develop.
