•••Declares Support for Obidient Movement Nationally
•••Says Atiku, Tinubu Expired
By Kamsi Anayo
Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, the Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has said that he is not against the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi.
The Bishop had earlier been reported as saying that he was not ‘Obidient’ which is the terminology for Obi’s supporters nationwide but he made the clarification on Monday that he did not oppose the politician at the national level.
He reiterated his call for a new Nigeria, insisting that Nigerians cannot afford to witness another set of bad leadership in 2023.
Chukwuma, who spoke in Enugu on Monday, said at the nick of time, Nigerians would elect leaders that would uplift the people from the suffering they were currently passing through under the APC-led government.
According to him, APC and PDP have nothing new to offer to Nigerians and the country.
He maintained that the Church had not endorsed any candidate, adding that politicians should be able to win people to their side rather than hiding under Obidient mantra to win elections.
While restating his position that Enugu state since 1999 has been entrenched into Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) without any strong opposition, the Archbishop added that it was not justifiable for anyone to claim that the state was Obidient.
“There is no doubt that I said, both Atiku and Jagaban are expired and they have no new things to offer us.
“And I talked about being Obidient nationally, but the situation is that living in Enugu and seeing what has happened in the past years when PDP has been in power for years and other parties have not surfaced until now.
“It it has become very much necessary for people to know that Enugu as it is has been so entrenched into a party called PDP.
“Talk about the National Assembly, House of Assembly and local government all being powered by PDP and so, I have not seen anywhere other parties have power in Enugu State to say they are Obidient.
“I totally support Obidient nationally, but state wise, I’m talking about the personalities in the state, and I do know that those in the state that are not corrupt will be endorsed and voted for by us.
“We’re praying that the right people under God will come up in this nation to vie for positions that will make Nigeria to be better.
“Let it be clear to Nigerians that, I’m not against Peter Obi and I’m not against Obidient nationally, but state wise, Obidient may not work.
“Because, it is going to be a matter of personality and not a matter of party and again, Obidient is Peter Obi personified, nobody in the state is Peter Obi, so it may not be possible for you to say states can be Obidient like Enugu, because it depends on the strength, structure and the power of the party in government particularly the incumbency.
“So I want us to please get it clear, all those who have been writing things against me should note that I’m not a person anybody can destroy, and by the grace of God, nobody has settled me and nobody can settle me, I’ve not received money from anybody.
“I’m only expressing myself with what I’ve observed and seen.
“Enugu as far as I’m concerned, may not be Obidient but many will be Obidient nationally because Peter Obi is Obidient personified,” he insisted.
Chukwuma, who is also the Bishop of Enugu Diocese, maintained that the church was focused on praying for an end to insecurity, poverty, violence, hunger, and other issues confronting the country.
While reacting to the news making the rounds on the social media, where he was quoted during the burial of a former Military Administrator of Osun and Abia states, Colonel Anthony Obi (rtd), to have lashed out at the candidates and supporters of the Labour Party in Nigeria, the Anglican Archbishop, explained clearly that he was not against Peter Obi’s presidential ambition, rather against corrupt politicians who think they could win elections by hiding under Obidient movement.
“Let us be very careful of corrupt politicians who may want to run under the Obi or Obidient movement because they feel that it is catching much wave.
“All that I’m saying is that we must think about the personality, integrity, and pedigree of the person in any party that is going to vie for position in Nigeria, they should not hide under Obidient movement as if to say, they are going to win election.
“My own concern is that Peter Obi, found to be very credible, Nigerians should be out to make sure that young people should be given a chance and allow him to clean the mess that we’re in within the country,” the Anglican high priest said.
He said Nigeria was in dire need of people who have knowledge on human capacity development, economy, agriculture, business and finance, not corrupt politicians who had continued to recycle themselves in power.
He urged political parties to refine their paths with people-oriented programmes that could lift the country out of poverty.
The cleric maintained that he remained a voice, and responsible, adding: “I, Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma has been a constant, responsible clergyman for the past thirty something years as a Bishop”.
“It is quite clear that in this country people know me as speaking out, I’ve been condemning the evil in this society and in Nigeria.
“And we are very much aware that even in my synod, I condemned the evil things happening in this government, particularly led by Buhari and I meant it that we need a new Nigeria,” he said.