From Vivian Israel, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has called on religious leaders across the country to champion the vanguard against corruption in the country.
He also said the church as a body has the responsibility to examine, enlighten and educate the citizens of the country on the means to ensure that political office holders run accountable and transparent leadership to those who voted them to power.
Speaking on Sunday at Christ Church, Port Harcourt during a service organized for the Induction of the Resident Minister and reception of Assistant President Ministers, Amaechi urged religious leaders to as a matter of responsibility hold government accountable.
According to him, “I have been trying my best possible to avoid politics in the church but God will not come down to act, we will act on our own…”
Continuing, Amaechi said, “While we are talking about the problem and the ways to end religious wars in the country, others are busy stealing our money, may be, they are using it to divert our attention. The issues of the missing 49.8billion dollars from the Federation account is still there. If you convert that money to naira, you will get 80 trillion Naira, and that money can solve the problem of this country for the next few years. And the federal government says they use the money for this and that. But, the constitution says, nobody can tamper with that money, the money must first of all be paid into the federation account before releasing the money. So that, Rivers State, or Imo State can have their share. But, the Federal Government have gone upfront to collect this money without actually following the due process as stipulated by law”, Amaechi said.
“The church can also examine and preach against the missing funds. Don’t accuse PDP or APC, just accuse Politicians of stealing money. So that you can educate the people on the means to ask for accountability. I am the only Governor that has been made to rule through the Supreme Court judgement without contesting for an election in this country. And having attained that position, my duty is not to only deliver what Nigerians call dividends of democracy without actually ensuring accountable and transparent leadership. Politicians can’t come to Government House to share our money. We should not allow politicians to steal our money. We should ask questions about our missing money.”
Governor Amaechi also spoke on the sudden suspension of CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
“You can imagine how President Jonathan announced the sudden removal(suspension) of the CBN Governor. He does not have such powers. He knows that nothing will happen that was why he took that action. So, I think the preachers should begin to preach what we called the liberation theology. You (church leaders) are supposed to have more responsibilities to hold government accountable.” Amaechi said.
Governor Amaechi equally advised members of the Christ Church Port Harcourt to accord more trust, confidence and encouragement to the newly inducted Resident Minister, Reverend Kaleb Kay Uche and the Assistant Resident Ministers, Rev. Canon Inuma T. Davies and the Reverend Victor Ben.
“I urge the church to keep to their vows as it is in page 26 of the programme. By our training in the Catholic Church, the Priests does not lack anything. The church members buy them cars, clothing, food etc. That is why when they die, we bury them in the church premises. You can never disrespect the Catholic Priests.” Amaechi said.
He further promised to commence the building of a model primary school in the church premises.
Earlier, in his message, the Prelate and moderator of the General Assembly of the Prebyterian church of Nigeria to Christ Church Port Harcourt, His Eminence, Reverend Emele Mba Uka highlighted on the significance of the induction of the resident ministers and their services to the church and humanity.
