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From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
Catholic cleric, Rev Fr Kenny Udumka, has said that the major reason the nation is still underdeveloped is as a result of chronic dishonesty and lack of vision in the political leadership of the country.
He also noted that the absence of empathy on the part of the leaders and the people has deepened the current situation of hopelessness in the country, where ordinary citizens are grappling with unmitigated poverty and suffering in the mix of abundance.
Fr Udumka who is serving as a Spiritan missionary priest in the United States of America, celebrated the silver jubilee anniversary of his priestly ordination yesterday at his local parish, St Theresa, Nguru Umuoda, Aboh Mbaise Council Area of Imo State.
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Fielding questions from journalists after the Mass to mark his priestly anniversary, Udumka who is also the founder of American Initiative for Health in Africa (AIHWA), said that chronic dishonesty and lack of vision by those who have found themselves at the helm of the affairs of Nigeria have remained major causes of the nation’s underdevelopment.
His words: “The major problem which has continued to hold the country down is that leaders are not honest and visionary. If they were to be a bit honest we wouldn’t be where we are today because God has blessed this nation abundantly in every ramification. The rampant corruption in the country is also a result of lack of honesty amongst the leaders who don’t care about the welfare of the people they are supposed to look after. They have failed to provide even the basic necessities of life for the poor masses.”
The cleric added: “As a priest our life is that of sacrifice and caring for the people, and even when based in the US, I had to establish a non-profit organization called American Initiative for Health in Africa in 2016, with offices across African countries and one in Umuohiagu community in Ngor Okpala, which is along the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport road. This is the first fully integrated medical clinic in Nigeria, which offers free medical care for impoverished Nigerians. So, I thank God for giving me his grace to mark 25th anniversary of my priestly ordination. I had to travel down from the US to celebrate with my people and my family.”
The cleric, therefore, called on Nigerian leaders to take more interest in welfare of the are leading to lessen the current hopelessness in the country which has resulted in the agitation by youths who cannot find jobs several years after they had graduated from universities.
