The Bishop, Ibadan North (Anglican) Diocese, Reverend Williams Aladekugbe, has called on government at all levels to think of what is workable and practicable in the new year as against the palliatives it gives, as a way of addressing the current economic challenges facing the people.
In his New Year message, Aladekugbe noted that besides such palliatives not going round the populace, many politicians, whom he described as unscrupulous, also use the means to enrich themselves, charging Nigerians to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness, and fight the good fight of faith to take hold of eternal life.
The cleric implored the government to invest more into local government interests than federal government issues, saying, that way, people would feel the effect of having a government rather than chaos in most parts of community living.
The diocesan urged the government to ensure that in the new year, no religion or tradition is allowed to take precedence over the constitution in any part of the country for the sake of the unity of the country, appealing to government to make life meaningful and livable for citizens, whom he said are hungry and angry, as the cost of living is astronomically high and unbearable.
“The rate at which Nigerian Naira continues to tumble leaves much to be desired. The government is enjoined to do something serious about it. The skyrocketing prices of food items are undesirable. That a bag of rice will ever be as high as N60,000 in Nigeria is unthinkable when minimum wage is put at N30,000.
“Citizens generally do not feel safe in the country, and that is why they decide to relocate to countries they think have better security services. Due to the high rates of crime and insecurity in Nigeria, the country ranks low on the 2023 Global Peace Index, at the 144th position out of 163 countries,” the Bishop lamented.
Aladekugbe noted that although it may seem fleeing from corruption and evils ways do not mean much again in the country, Nigerians, and particularly the Church, must make a difference in the year 2024, expressing gratitude to God for His protection through the year 2023 despite all its ups and downs.
“A lot of things happened in the year 2023, beginning with pre-election challenges which included Naira redesign, unavailability of cash, fuel scarcity, elections, change of governments, and the withdrawal of fuel subsidy which brought untold hardship on the people even till date. In all of these, God saw us through, Alleluia!.”
The Cleric implored everyone, as the new year begins, to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness, to fight the good fight of faith and take hold of eternal life, expressing certainty that if Christians kept the faith and had no hands in the ills and plagues troubling the country, others would have a re-think.
“While thanking God for the dawn of a new year, we pray that the new year will bring joy, peace, security, and fulfillment to all and sundry. Happy New Year to us all,” the Bishop concluded.
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