By Tony Edike
ENUGU—SOUTH East Christian leaders, yesterday,  appealed to governors in the five states of the zone and striking workers in state-owned universities to reach a compromise and call off the strike immediately for the sake of students and future generation.

The church  leaders made the call during a one-day summit of South East Christian Leaders held at the Grace of God Mission International, Enugu.

Spokesman of the group and first National Vice Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Revd  Dr. Paul Nwachukwu, called for dialogue between the striking workers and the governors.

Nwachukwu, who is also   the General Superintendent, Grace of God Mission, explained that the Christian leaders decided to meet in Enugu and look  into some boiling issues in the zone, believing that the best way to handle them was to pray and seek the face of the Lord.

The summit called on the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and Non Academic Staff Union, NASU, to as a matter of urgency, discuss with government and return to the classrooms.

The clerics lamented: “Our future leaders are stranded at home as all the universities in our zone are closed down.

“Also state governors are called upon to consider the plea of our lecturers as well as provide the universities with what they need to make education progressive.”

They also appealed to individuals and corporate bodies to help build universities in the zone, as the establishment of more private universities will alleviate the admission problems in the area.

On the issue of kidnapping, robbery and incessant assassinations, the leaders warned everyone involved in these acts to stop or face the wrath of God.

The summit challenged political leaders to consider those that elected them and to judiciously use their constituency allowances to enhance the welfare of their constituents.

The church leaders expressed confidence on the leadership of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo and noted that the leadership of the organisation made consultation before arriving at a decision to endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2011 elections.

They advised politicians from the zone to listen to Ohaneze and speak with one voice concerning the political direction of the zone as the summit is not against who emerges as president but that the votes of the people must count.

The summit appealed to all christians to come out en masse and register during Voters’ Registration as well vote during the elections.