Anglican Church calls for emergency on S’East roads

From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka

SYNOD of Amichi An­glican Diocese in Nnewi South Local Government in Anambra State has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on federal roads in the South-East geo-political zone.

The synod made the call in a communiqué at the end of the second session of the Third Synod held at St. Philip’s Church, Ezia­ma, Amichi.

The church pleaded with the president to save road users in the region from the death traps the roads have become.

Specifically, the church said attention should be paid to Onitsha-Nnewi- Amichi-Ug a – Okigwe federal highway, Enu­gu-Onitsha, Aba-Ikotu Ekpene-Port Harcourt Ex­pressway.

The communiqué was signed by the Clerical Syn­od Secretary, Ven. Henry O.R. Amobi; Commu­niqué/Resolution Com­mittee Chairman, Lady Amaka Udogu and the Bishop of the diocese, Rt. Rev. Ephraim O. Ikeakor, also frowned at the abrupt manner fuel subsidy was removed.

“The Synod frowns at the abrupt manner in which the Federal Government removed subsidy on pe­troleum products, thereby throwing the nation into untold hardship and urges the government as a mat­ter of urgency to expedite action towards fashioning out palliative measures to cushion the effects of the price hike in petroleum products and electricity tariff.

“The Synod com­mends the president and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for his remarkable approach in tackling Boko Haram and his resolve to fight corrup­tion in the country and urges the Federal Gov­ernment not to limit the fight against corruption to the administrative cadre. Those who are waging war against corruption should abstain from corrupt prac­tices.”

The church also noted with sadness, incessant bombing of oil installa­tions by militant groups and the senseless man­ner the Fulani herdsmen usurp people’s lands, kill­ing people, violating hu­man rights and destroying families and farm lands in the country.”

The Synod advised the Federal Government and the legislative arm to enact laws to halt the conflict be­tween herdsmen, farmers and villagers.

The church said Fulani herdsmen should graze their cattle in their locality and then transport them for sale in other parts of the country and maintained that the proposed Grazing Reserve Bill should not be passed into law.