By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Calabar Diocese, has urged Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, to adopt a firmer approach to recurring inter-communal clashes and immediately establish a Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board.
The call was made by the Lord Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Calabar, Rt. Rev. Prof. Nneoyi Egbe, at the close of the 13th Session of the 12th Synod of the Diocese in Calabar.
Egbe said the government should stop treating communal conflicts with levity, stressing that decisive action and stronger security deployment in flashpoints would deter further violence and guarantee lasting peace.
“The government needs to be more hard-headed in dealing with inter-communal conflicts in the state. Strong security presence in areas designated as buffer zones will help forestall further breakdown of peace between affected communities,” he said.
The Synod also criticised the absence of a Cross River State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board nearly three years into the current administration, describing the situation as unacceptable.
“It is an aberration that a Christian state with a Christian governor has no Christian Pilgrims Board, while there is a Muslim Pilgrims Board. This is unjust, unfair and provocative,” the church stated, urging the government to constitute the board without further delay.
While commending the administration for youth employment initiatives, road construction, the acquisition of three aircraft for Cally Air, free WAEC registration for indigenous students and the restoration of bursaries, the Synod noted that several intra-city roads remain abandoned after rehabilitation work commenced.
The church further urged the government to ensure that tractors procured for agricultural development are distributed fairly to genuine farmers across the state.
It, however, expressed concern that the administration’s “People First” mantra appears to be losing public confidence, citing the recent protest at the 8 Miles area of Calabar as evidence of growing dissatisfaction.
According to the Synod, excessive layers of political intermediaries have limited citizens’ access to government, urging the administration to become more responsive to the people.
The church also warned of increasing migration from the state due to declining living conditions and called on the government to treat the situation as a priority by improving roads, waste management and schools to stem population loss and promote sustainable development.
