By 
The Most Rev Isaac Afolabi Amoo has called on the political leaders and government at all levels to always ensure that they provide adequate security for the lives and property of the people of the country.
The cleric, who is the Bishop of the Diocese of New Bussa, Anglican Communion (Church of Nigeria) made the call during the 5th Synod of the Church held at St John Church, New Bussa, Kwara State Province.
The bishop, in his message, pointed out that our security forces must equally review their strategies, and seek help from advanced nations to complement their efforts.
Amoo stressed the need for the government at all levels to finance, and give adequate priority to the security of lives and property.
“If the situation in Nigeria were to be half of what it is today, violence, intolerance, and fear in 1914, the various nationalities that constituted Nigeria would have not have come together as done by Lord Lugard and his wife.
“Efforts in the past to have a credible national census were bedeviled by warped notions of what the census is all about. Thus fake and unrealistic figures were released.
“Our duty as a Diocese is to appeal to all ethnic groups, regions, and religions to assist Nigeria to break the jinx of failed census exercise.
“We should not allow the competition between religions and tribes to deny us of social progress.
“Before the advent of the civilian regimes of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, this country has been fighting the monster called corruption, every administration with a promise to fight this monster.
“We should give kudos to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who set up the institution that can be reported to, such as the EFCC, ICPC, Code of Conduct Bureau, and Code of Conduct Tribunal.
“The regimes after him had so much at hand, that sometimes we wonder whether they are truly fighting corruption or is it corruption that is fighting them.
“Many Nigerians had given up hope that something would ever be done again as corruption is generally assumed to be of national proportion, connecting all power blocks at the national, state, local, and traditional levels.
“The Government of Major General Muhammadu Buhari needs to vindicate the sit down –wait -cynics if truly he is doing anything to fight corruption because the situation on the ground does not show that the government is fighting, but rather encouraging corruption.
“Many of the government projects and programmes are nothing but corruption.
“Such projects and programmes as feeding the pupils of primary schools whom the government claimed to be feeding even when during COVID-19 all schools were closed down.
“The cash support for traders who were given cash without any of them signing for such payment and many more,” the Bishop said.
Amoo criticised the depreciating value of the Naira, recalling with pride, and amazement that in the 1970s and 1980s, the Nigeria Naira was one of the strongest currencies in the world.
According to Bishop Amoo, “one Naira is almost stronger than the British pound and almost doubles the United States of America dollar. However and gradually, the value of the Naira began a downward slide.
“Unfortunately, successive governments did not bother about this negative trend because some of the government officials are benefitting from the situation”.
He said that the rate at which the Naira has been taking a plunge within the last two years was alarming and embarrassing.
“Before the present government took over, it used to be over one United States dollar and N270 to one British pound.
“Today, the situation has changed to N1, 785 to one USD. This is an indication that the Naira has been over devalued.
“To make matters worse, the government officials have told us that the Naira is in fact overvalued.
Bishop Amoo listed some of the factors responsible for this self-infliction of pain, and poverty on Nigerians as reported by some analysts:
“We were far more productive in 1970 – 1980 than we are today. From 1970 to 1980, we were a net exporter of refined petroleum products. Today, we import all our refined petroleum products.
“Nigerians were riding the locally assembled cars, buses, and trucks.
“Peugeot cars were manufactured in Kaduna and Volkswagen cars in Lagos. Leyland in Ibadan and ANAM Co in Enugu produced buses and trucks. Steyr inBauchiproducing agricultural tractors.
“We were also producing almost all the components. Vono produced the seats in Lagos; Exile in Ibadan produced the batteries for the whole of West Africa.
“Isoglass, and TSG in Ibadan producing the windshield. Ferodo in Ibadan produce brake pads and discs.
“Tyres were produced by Dunlop in Lagos and Mitchelinin Port – Harcourt.
“These types were produced from the rubber plantations located in Ogun, Cross River, Rivers State, Edo, and Delta States.
“We were using refrigerators, freezers, and Air – conditions produced by PZ, Thermo Cool. The cloths we were putting on were produced from UNTL Textile mills in Kaduna and Chellarams in Lagos.
“The pipes for our running water were produced by Kwalipipein Kano and Duraplast in Lagos. Our cooking was done through LPG gas stored inside gas cylinders Produced at the NGC factory, Ibadan.
“The Cables for the electrification were produced by the Nigeria Wire and Cable, Ibadan, NOCACO in Kaduna, and KableMetal in Lagos, and Port – Harcourt.
“The Bata and Lennards produced our shoes. Not from imported leather, but from locally tanned leather in Zaria, Kaduna, and Kano.
“We were flying the Nigeria Airways to almost every country in the world. Nigeria Airways was the biggest in Africa at that time. Most of the food we ate was grown and produced in Nigeria,” he said.
Bishop Amoo pointed out that these were the situation in Nigeria then; but today, Nigeria imports almost everything, saying; “the time to change these trends is now. Nigeria must move forward and regain her lost glory”.
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