Anglicans are marginalized in Anambra- Bishop

The Anglican Synod of the Diocese of Niger ( Onitsha)  on Sunday alleged that Anglicans in Anambra state were being marginalized by the state government.

Anglican Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev Owen Nwokolo stated this in his address  at St. Andrew's Anglican Church Obosi in Idemili-North local government area of the state during the 30th synod of the diocese.

 He said there is “gross imbalance in political appointments in Anambra state.  Anglican faithful in the state are shortchanged and marginalized from occupying government positions.

“ It’s  incumbent on the present administration in the state to strike a balance as well as adopt the principle of equity and  fair play in political appointments in order not to relegate any section of the state to the background ‘.
He said government should be more democratic in the planning and executing of its policies and programmes.”

 The bishop regretted that former President Goodluck Jonathan did not fulfill his promise of immortalizing the late Prof.Chinua Achebe as he ( Jonathan)  assured during Achebe’s burial by modernizing  the primary school  Achebe attended.
 He said“Though a structure was built in the primary school to immortalize the late Achebe,  the contractor who handled the construction of the building did a shoddy job .
The Bishop said  the structure put up purporting to immortalize the late literary icon had  developed cracks  and was on the verge of collapsing .
Nwokolo described the situation as an embarrassment to both the Federal and state governments.
He appealed to the state Governor, Willie Obiano ,to remedy the situation before the building would collapse on school children.
 Speaking,  Obiano assured of intervention on the Achebe school even as complained of poor  finances of the state.
Obiano who was represented by his deputy Dr.Nkem Okeke  said he had approved funds for palliative works  across communities in the state.
 He urged  the people of the state to continue to pay their taxes promptly  to enable government to perform optimally.
  A former  Vice Prresident of Nigeria, Dr.Alex Ekwueme and his wife, Beatrice , former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku , former governor of Anambra state, Mr Peter Obi, Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Dr.Boboye Oyeyemi , former Minister of  Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka were among those who attended the synod