Clement Nnachi, Abakaliki
Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Kanu Uche, has urged the Federal Government to urgently transmit the report of the 2014 National Conference to the National Assembly for debate and passage into law .
Prelate Uche made the assertion at the Abakaliki Diocese of the Church on Tuesday while briefing newsmen on state of the Nation as part of activities to mark his One-Week Apostolic visit to the Diocese.
He said that the report of the 2014 National Conference contained several resolutions and remedies that, if implemented, would tackle the upsurge of insecurity, banditry and other vices bedeviling the country.
According to him,” The country desires True Federalism, Devolution of Powers to the State and Local Governments to deliver dividends of democracy to the grassroots”
“Buhari sould go back to the Resolution of the 2014 National Conference, take those issues that are salient, transmit the report to the National Assembly for passage and subsequent assent by him.
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“The recommendations of the Conference would give us Peace, Freedom, that would make us live and co-exist, nobody should see Nigeria as personal property, we should be treated equally, when that is done there would be no problem in the country”
“We desire a country where there is no marginalisation, where Press Freedom obtains, freedom of Association, we are not seeing freedom yet. There is element of marginalisation.”
The clergyman harped on the need for political leaders to equally go back and adhere to the provisions of the Constitution of the Country insisting “if implemented there would be peace , Justice and Equity”
Speaking against the backdrop of the 2023 Presidential election, Prelate Uche called for the rotation of the Presidency between the Northern and Southern zones of the country insisting that the Igbo should be given an opportunity to clinch the position.
He continued, “We must rotate the Presidency between the North and South, both the North, South-West and South-South have tested the position, the Igbo should be allowed to occupy the position come 2023,
“Igbo man is a Team Player. Nobody loves Nigeria more than the Ibos. Let it go round so that everybody will have a sense of belonging, my policy is live and let live.”
The clergyman enjoined the Federal Government to focus on the provision of qualitative Education to the citizenry geared towards eliminating the Out of School Syndrone In the society.
According to him,” Any Government that does not pay attention to Education is doomed for destruction, it is the bedrock for development of any nation.”
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He advocated for a review of the Allocation Formula insisting that more funds be allocated to the States and Local Governments.
“Let them change the Allocation Formula, grant Financial Autonomy to Local Governments, Give more money to states and Local Governments, there is so much wastage, any Governor that takes local Government funds should be taken to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ( ICPC).”
Prelate Uche stressed the need for the different ethnic-Nationalities in the country to imbibe the virtues of unity and cohesion.
“I believe in One Nigeria. I am a Nationalist. I want a country where there is Justice, Equity and Freedom. Since my emergence as Prelate Methodist Church, I am an example that the Igbo will do well if given the Number One Position in the country come 2023.”
It would be recalled that Dr. Uche was enthroned as a Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria in 2013 and is the first Igbo man to occupy the position.
