Expresses shock over increase in nations debt to N32.9tn, inflation


Dayo Johnson – Akure

The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion has described the 1999 constitution as a “toxic and fatally flawed document” designed to place a particular section of the country above other ethnic groups.

Bishop of the Diocese of Akure, Rt. Revd. Simeon Oluwole Borokoni said this at the third session of the 13th synod held Saint Andrews Anglican Church, Alade ldanre, in Ondo state.

The church equally expressed shock over the increase in the nation’s debt to N32.9tn as published by the Debt Management Office (DMO) and inflation “that is ravaging the country at the moment, which has increased the cost of living with the attendant rise in the poverty index.

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Borokini said that ” the 1999 constitution which should be revisited in order to satisfy the yearnings of every part of the country was “a toxic and fatally flawed document”

He noted that the current level of acrimony and lack of mutual trust across the country can only be solved if contentious aspects of the constitution were looked into.

“The 1999 constitution needs to be revisited. It was done to favour certain ethnic parts of the country while the constitution does not favour some parts.

“So, I will suggest that the constitution should be revisited so that it will bring mutual and unity among the people so that it will not be a constitution that favours certain ethnic groups. The constitution is not practicable.

“All the national conferences held to date up to the 2014 and the latest, which is the El-Rufai committee recommendations which are aimed at addressing the fault tines in the present constitution should serve as useful resource materials which could be tapped into to produce a Nigerian Constitution of our dream that will be all-inclusive, fair, credible, responsive, acceptable and functional to make our democracy work.

“With the current Ievel of acrimony, bitterness and lack of mutual trust in the country the most reasonable option is to shift the monologue of those favoured by the existing constitution to a convocation of dialogue of our ethnic nationalities to resolve contentious areas in this important document.”

On the nation’s debts, he said that “Synod notes with rude shock the sporadic rise in Nigeria’s Public Debt to N32.9tn in recent times as published by the Debt Management Office (DMO). The government is therefore urged as a matter of top priority to reduce the frequency of borrowing, which might lead the country into bankruptcy.

“Synod urges Government at all levels to take drastic measures at taming this ugly trend. The government is urged to tackle seriously the issue of poor electricity supply, which if addressed, will help to generate more employment particularly for our teeming unemployed youth, and thereby improve the economy of the Nation.

“Nigerians particularly the leaders to embrace the political will that adopts a problem-solving mindset in dealing with the economic issues that confront us a Nation.

“Synod observes with great concern the dwindling state of the economy of the nation, especially the runaway inflation that is ravaging the country at the moment, which has increased the cost of living with the attendant rise in the poverty index.

“According to the National Bureau of Statistics in a recent report, 33.3 % of the labour force in Nigeria or 23,189,389 persons either do nothing or work for less than twenty hours a week.

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Speaking insecurity ravaging most parts of the country, the Bishop emphasized the issue of banditry and kidnappings had continued to thrive due to the lack of stiff penalties meted out perpetrators.

He advocated for the deployment of modern technologies such as drones and CCTV cameras to combat the menace.

“Synod commends the efforts of our security agencies in their fight against the issue of insecurity confronting the Nation at this time but urges them to improve on their efforts at tackling this monster confronting our Nation.

“Synod also commends the efforts of the various Governors, especially in the South West in the establishment of Amotekun Corps in a bid to reducing the spate of insecurity in their respective domains.

On restructuring, the synod said that “the restructuring of our polity has dominated our public discourse in recent times with so many perspectives on its interpretation.

“Synod urges the Federal Government to listen to the yearnings of the people by embracing true Federalism which is believed would stem the agitations for secession by those who feel marginalised in the country.

On corruption, the Synod notes with concern the persistent issue of corruption ravaging our nation, which has affected all strata of our national life with the attendant consequences.

“Synod, therefore, urges Government at all levels to take the fight against corruption seriously if this country is going to survive.

Commending Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for his speaking truth to power on national issues, the Bishop lauded him for the manner in which he had been able to tackle the issue of insecurity with the Amotekun Corps.

“Much as the government is making all efforts to combat these scourge, I will suggest among other steps that an all-inclusive security summit at community and at all tiers of government level, involving all stakeholders such as traditional rulers, religious leaders, road transport workers. Okada riders, politicians, youths, market women etc be regularly convened to discuss ways to check the criminalities in our society.

“Also, because such evil acts persist due to lack of appropriate and severe consequences, stiff penalties that are backed by law should be meted out to offenders who perpetrate such dastardly acts.

He added that “Job creation and provision of enabling environment by the government for businesses to thrive should not be ignored because of the correlation between idleness and predisposition to crime and criminality especially amongst our youths.”

Vanguard News Nigeria