Anglican Bishop flays Tinubu’s prioritising political patronage in ambassadorial nomination

Rt. Rev. Ephraim Ikeakor, bishop, Anglican Diocese of Amichi, Anambra State, has called for competence and capacity, not compensation for partisan politics for Nigerian Ambassadorial nominations.

Ikeakor made the observation at the Anglican Prayer Rally of Anambra state in Awka on Sunday.

He said what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did on the ambassadorial lists he sent to the National Assembly for consideration was to reward those who helped him to win the 2023 presidential election.

He particularly made reference to such names in the non-career ambassador lists, as the former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu (Bauchi), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Reno Omokri (Delta), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and others.

The clergy said the timing and circumstances of their appearing in the ambassadorial list was wrong, even if they are qualified, knowing the roles they played in 2023 general elections on behalf of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and President Tinubu to win.

“What are the criteria the President used in their srlection, that is my concern. We should learn to follow competence and capacity in this nation, not compensation for partisan politics,” Ikeakor affirmed.

On insecurity in Nigeria, he said the government seemed to be helpless, stressing that the army have been infiltrated and compromised, likewise the police, and they cannot successfully tackle insecurity now.

“This is the time to say the truth to Nigerians, every sane Nigerian knows that. When you are sick and you denied that you are sick, that sickness will kill you.

“Let admit that we are incapable of handling this. We need external assistance, that is basic because in a country where a kidnapper or terrorist will gather people and be using phone to call for ransom. And you said you can’t track them down is laughable.

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“Why did we help Liberia through ECOMOG, and now America wants to help us, we are talking about sovereign nation, what is sovereign about us now. A Brigadier General was ambushed, killed and nobody is talking about it.

“A group of people carrying 200-300 students were kidnapped travelling on the road and nobody intercepted them, and when help was sent from the military, a call was made to the commander, you heard it at the floor of the Senate…we are helpless and need external help,” Ikeakor stated.

Speaking on the prayer rally theme ‘For The Weapons Of Our Warfare Are Not Carnal But Mighty In God For Pulling Down Strongholds’ [2Cor.10:4], the cleric said: “here is no situation that God cannot give us victory in.”

“Our military, police and security agencies have failed, but only the weapons of prayers, that is why we are calling on God, let nobody deceive you that prayers doesn’t work. God does things in his mysterious way.

“Nigerians should never give in to intimidation and harassment that prayers doesn’t work and prayers is not good. Our greatest option now and most vibrant weapons now is prayers, trust in God, and believing what God can do,” he added.

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