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From Jude Chinedu and Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu
The Bishop of the Church of Nigeria, Diocese of Enugu, Rt. Rev. Prof. Samuel Ike, has delivered a scathing assessment of Nigeria’s worsening condition, declaring that rising insecurity, economic hardship, persistent power failure and poor governance have plunged millions of Nigerians deeper into suffering despite repeated promises by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking on Friday, during his presidential address at the Third Session of the 19th Synod of the Diocese held at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Bishop Ike said Nigeria’s persistent challenges remain fundamentally a leadership problem, warning that politicians appear disconnected from the reality facing ordinary citizens.
“It is a struggle not to begin a commentary on our great nation on a low note, but scholars have concluded correctly that the trouble with Nigeria is purely leadership. Politicians seem to have left the course and are speeding off on a road to Alice’s wonderland, unaware that the fire has gone beyond the mountains and the people now appear too weary to run,” the cleric stated.
While congratulating Nigerians and President Tinubu on over two decades of uninterrupted democratic rule since the return of democracy in 1999, the bishop said ordinary citizens deserved greater commendation for enduring worsening living conditions.
On electricity, Bishop Ike said: “Nigerians have not forgotten the President’s promise that by all means necessary, you must have electricity. However, with the recent installation of a N10 billion solar power system in Aso Rock, the hope of citizens towards improved power supply seems to have dimmed.”
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The Anglican bishop also expressed grave concern over insecurity, saying despite huge defence allocations running into trillions of naira, the security situation has continued to deteriorate.
The bishop went further, accusing the government of failing to confront what he described as targeted killings of Christians in Northern Nigeria.
“It is obvious even to the blind that although both Christians and Muslims are being killed, Christians are intentionally being targeted for elimination in Northern Nigeria.”
He noted that inflation; currency depreciation and worsening poverty have left Nigerians disillusioned.
The synod expressed disappointment over delays in completing the long-awaited Eastern rail corridor linking Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.
On Enugu State, the synod commended Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for infrastructural development and reforms in health, transport and education.
