By SAM EYOBOKA

CHRISTIAN leaders under the aegis of the Congress of International Communion of Bible Churches said there is enough evidence to show that the Presidency has a hand in the lingering political crisis in Rivers State.

In a communiqué at the end of a congress at Godswill Mission, Orhuwhorun, near Warri, Delta State, the clerics said it was unimaginable for the Presidency to fuel a crisis and therefore urged President Goodluck Jonathan to begin reconciliation with the state governor, Hon. Rotimi Amechi.

The communiqué read by the Archbishop, International Communion of Bible Churches, Prof. Simeon Godknows Onibere, the group frowned at the position of the Presidency in the crisis and urged the Gov. Seriake Dickson PDP Reconciliation Committee to begin non-partisan intervention in the Rivers State crisis.

They also frowned at the role of the Presidency during the governors’ forum logjam, lamenting that Gov. Jonah Jang allowed himself to be used to parade himself as chairman of NGF.

The communiqué which came at the end of a 3-day congress also reiterated that continued importation of refined petroleum products was not good for the nation; wondering why the federal government has refused to build new refineries and rehabilitate the old ones.

“We guess the oil cartel is still holding government by the throat,” the communique stated stressing the need for Presudent Jonathan to free himself and deliver to Nigerians the dividends of democracy he promised during his electioneering campaigns.

On the Boko-Haram insurgency, the clerics are of the opinion that government should take a tough military action against the insurgents since they are not interested in dialogue and cannot be identified. They noted that the Boko Haram group has declared war on Nigeria and Nigerians and therefore dialogue will be an impediment to the current military action that is being taken against them.

The communique also urged government to tackle insecurity, epileptic power supply, bad roads and continued importation of refined petroleum products, saying these are the basic requirements of the nation’s masses if the president must seek re-election come 2015.