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In a statement by its Primate Peter Akinola and Secretary, Samuel Akinola, the church regarded as the second largest in Nigeria noted that public office holders brazenly display "conspicuous affluence" in contrast to the level of poverty in the country. It said: "Political office holders at federal, state and local government over-provide for themselves, a mass wealth and live in affluence out of public funds".

The Guardian Online - http://ngrguardiannews.com
Wednesday, March 21, 2001
Anglican church condemns corruption, wealth display by office holders

FROM the pulpit came yesterday a hard knock on the present political leadership for their insatiable thirst for wealth and corruption.

And for such leadership's failure to provide the citizenry with basic amenities, the Church of Nigeria believes it is sheer sycophancy for any sane person to want a re-election or re-appointment of such political office holders.

In a statement by its Primate Peter Akinola and Secretary, Samuel Akinola, the church regarded as the second largest in Nigeria noted that public office holders brazenly display "conspicuous affluence" in contrast to the level of poverty in the country.

It said: "Political office holders at federal, state and local government over-provide for themselves, a mass wealth and live in affluence out of public funds".

According to the statement, "the apparent inability of the Federal Government to check this dangerous development casts doubt on the seriousness of its anti-corruption and transparency policies".

All the three tiers of government, it urged, should ensure prompt payment of salaries to civil servants and pensions to retired persons to minimise hardship on their families.

In the statement after its meeting in the Rivers State capital, Port-Harcourt, the church condemned the clamour by some Nigerians for the present leadership to continue in office.

"With dismay, we condemn the recent clamour by some Nigerians for some present political leaders to be given automatic second term in office."

While denouncing the agitation for second term in office, it drew the attention of political leaders to "sizeable" sections of the country that are yet to feel the impact of the present administration on their lives.

The church, therefore, called on all political office holders to concentrate their efforts on making food and other socio-economic amenities available and affordable to all Nigerians, rather than angling to retain their offices.

It also urged politicians to promote justice and security and further create jobs for the growing army of unemployed youths to check the social problems in the country, while appealing to them to shun cheap publicity in all their endeavours.

Besides, it called on the government to devise appropriate strategies to solve irregular fuel supply and its scarcity, as well as give "tangible" reasons to Nigerians on why it wants to deregulate the petroleum industry.

The statement further called on both federal and state governments to without delay, return schools previously owned by missions and other private proprietors to their original owners.