Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri
The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Oru in Imo State, Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Chukwunenye has called on the federal government to review the entire power concession agreement and restructure the system if it intends to give Nigerians improved power supply.
This is just as the prelate has said that Nigerians were not strictly resisting an increase in electricity tariff by the federal government but the fact that they have been paying for darkness.
Presenting his presidential address/charge to the 3rd session of the 4th Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Oru at St. Thomas Church, Omuma, Oru East local government area of Imo State, Bishop Chukwunenye said the solution to the numerous problems facing the power sector would never be solved by increasing the tariff.
According to him, “The price of any product in the market depends on its availability and packaging. Nigerians are not strictly resisting an increase in power tariffs but the fact that they have been paying for darkness. It is clear cases of dishonesty in the sector, notwithstanding that some of those who have the pre-paid meters are complaining that the installations are manipulated to overbill and defraud them.”
It is his opinion that for tariffs to be increased, the government should deploy standard calibrated prepaid meters to customers.
He expressed worries that Nigeria is still ranked as one of the very corrupt countries in the world under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari, who took the anti-corruption fight as one of his foremost core mandates.
According to him, corruption, which is responsible for governance failure in Nigeria, had created massive unemployment and worsening insecurity situation in the country.
The prelate also said that ethnicity, religious sentiments as well as weak security system have contributed to the high level of insecurity in the country.
He suggested that the government should embark on a development paradigm that would create an economy with relevant social, economic and physical infrastructure for business operations and industrial growth to provide gainful employment, functional and useful education and quality healthcare for the people.
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On the theme of the Synod, “All things are possible to him who believes”, Bishop Chukwunenye told the Synod that irrespective of their rural dwelling, they have greater opportunity to make a more positive impact on the lives of the people.
He told them that the only factor that makes a minister of God weak and powerless is sin.
According to him, “The world uses the lives of believers to judge not only their testimonies but also Christ himself.”
He added that the faithlessness of men grieves Christ and urged the priests and members of the church to utilize God’s gift in their various communities.
