The Enugu chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Amb. Emmanuel Ositadinma Edeh, has expressed worry over the rising cases of political violence in the state, ahead of the 2023 general governorship election.
Edeh while condemning the development, called on the Key stakeholders, traditional Institutions, Religious Leaders and Men of Integrity to Speak up againstt electoral violence in Enugu State, adding that the evil wind will blow no one any good.
The CAN Chairman said the recent killings of political party candidates, party faithfuls; provocative statements from politicians capable of inciting violence; smear propaganda of many kinds employed by media agents of political parties to bring down opponents; recent media and physical attacks on party candidates, conspiracies and betrayals going on in Enugu State today will hunt the state for a long time if not contained.
The clergyman raised this concern while delivering his Sunday sermon at Evangelical Church Winning all (ECWA) 3, Ziks Avenue, Enugu, titled “The Conspiracies and Betrayals In Our Time and Their Consequences” said the current political unrest caused by betrayals in Enugu State and the silence of critical stakeholders who are supposed to be mouth piece of the masses in a sane society is “an evil wind”.
Drawing his analogy from a bible passage where Joseph’s brothers conspired, betrayed and sold him out to Egyptians without having any sense of their bloodline, in the Book of Genesis Chapter 37 Verse 12, for sharing his dreams that his parents and brothers bowed to him, Edeh said that’s a replica of the prevalent situation in Enugu state today.
While noting that having dreams and ambitions in life is never bad, he condemned situations where brothers conspire and betray their own brothers in a bid achieve their own ambition, adding that such actors never end well.
Rev. Edeh called on groups and people of influence in Enugu State such as Traditional Rulers, Religious Leaders, Political Stakeholders and well meaning citizens of Enugu State to rise against the dangerous trends capable of tearing the society apart.
“The level of inhumanity, bitterness against one another which our nation Nigerian is degenerating into is a total anarchy under our watch. The Church of God should join to condemn this evil wind because our congregations are made up of members of different communities in the society.
“Why are the Political Stakeholders not addressing these issues? Why are Traditional Institutions not rising up to condemn these negative actions? Why are revered religious groups and leaders not addressing it? Why should a decent society allow over ambitious politicians to set Enugu State on fire? Are we going to sit and allow the unthinkable to continue to happen? Where are the men of honor, integrity and leaders of thoughts?
“WHY THE ABSOLUTE SILENCE?” he asked.
JOURNALIST101 recalls that few hours after the sermon by the clergy, the convoy of the PDP Gubernatorial Flagbearer, Barr. Ndubuisi Mbah was attacked at Ugwu Di Nso, where some suspected political political mercenaries vandalised one of the vehicles in the convoy.
