BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI – Catholic bishops of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, comprising the dioceses in Imo and Abia states, have charged governments of the two states to serve the citizenry well or risk mass uprising.

The bishops  of Owerri, Orlu, Ahiara, Okigwe, Aba and Umuahia said this in a 12-point pastoral statement, weekend,  at the end of their second plenary meeting for 2011. The statement was signed by the Chairman and Secretary, Archbishop Anthony Obinna and Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Ukwuoma respectively.

The clerics listed the basic needs of the people to include provision and maintenance of potable water, energy, good roads, transportation, shelter, food security and health care delivery.

Said the bishops: “The people can no longer endure waiting for our political leaders to fulfill these inevitable needs, most of which were their election promises and are topmost on the list of normal government business.”

On unemployment in the two states, the bishops warned that joblessness, if not properly and timely resolved, can become a time bomb ready to explode.