Friday, March 29, 2024

Punish officials diverting relief materials from IDP camps, Christian leaders tell Buhari

Christian leaders in the country have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the alleged diversion of relief materials meant for persons displaced by the insurgency of the Boko Haram sect and now living in camps. The Christian leaders, under the aegis of the Christ Global Network, also enjoined President Buhari to expedite action on the rescue of the missing Chibok girls. The Apostolic Presbyter of the CGN, Bishop Taiwo Akinola, said at the end of the group’s New Wine 2016 conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State, that the religious leaders were touched by the alarm raised recently in the National Assembly about the diversion of the relief materials meant for the IDPs.
Akinola said such an allegation from the nation’s lawmakers had made it imperative for the Buhari administration to take a serious look at the matter with a view to putting an end to such an occurrence.
The CGN enjoined the President to ensure that the welfare of the IDPs in the various camps across the country was not compromised in any way.
The Christian leaders who commended the government for the success recorded in the fight against the Boko Haram sect, however, added that more efforts should be made towards the rescue of the missing Chibok girls alive.
Achieving such a feat, they argued, would serve as an evidence of the country’s victory over terrorism and violence.
According to them, “We salute the efforts of the nation’s security outfits in combating the deadly Boko Haram sect to near-extinction. However, we submit that efforts should be geared up till our Chibok girls are rescued alive and full security of lives and property is restored everywhere within our borders. Certainly, this will be the true litmus test of our complete victory over gangsterism, vandalism and all forms of terrorism.
“We also enjoin government to increase her efforts in the speedy rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced persons and families so that they can safely integrate into the society without disadvantage.
“There is also the need to see that the welfare of the displaced persons in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps is not compromised.
It was disheartening to hear distinguished members of the hallowed National Assembly bemoan the diversion of relief materials from the IDP camps. We strongly admonish the government not to take this lightly.”
The CGN also cautioned President Buhari over the violence in the Niger Delta, urging him to adopt a “carrot and stick approach” in resolving the problem.
The CGN said though the violence in the oil-rich region should be condemned, the President needed to tread carefully, stressing, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
On his anti-graft war, the CGN commended the President but stressed that every culprit must be investigated, regardless of their party or religious affiliation.
They said that the President must ensure justice in his anticorruption war, without fear or favour.
“On the bombings in the South South, we enjoin the government to adopt a carrot and stick approach.
“We request that the antigraft bodies beam their searchlights on Nigerians without recourse to their affiliations or membership.
“We are delighted by the recent announcement of the money recovered in the anti-corruption crusade. The money must be put into judicious use for national growth.

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