Bishop Berates Buhari over Fuel Scarcity

•Says attack on Kachikwu misdirected
Charles Onyekamuo in Akwa

The Bishop of Niger West (Anglican Communion) in Anambra State, Rt. Rev. Johnson Ekwe has joined issues with Nigerians who are attacking the Minister of State, Petroleum and Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu over the scarcity of fuel in the filling stations, saying the attack is misdirected.

Bishop Ekwe who spoke weekend while dedicating a new church building donated to the Anglican Church of Umuatuolu-Umueri Community of Anambra East by some illustrious sons of the community led by Senator Emma Obi Anosike said it was wrong to ask the minister to resign over lapses in the supply of fuel.

This, he said, was because President Buhari is the substantive Minister of Petroleum from who Kachikwu takes directives and should be held directly responsible for any lapse in the supply of fuel.

He also took swipes at the activities of Fulani herdsmen who while carrying sophisticated AK 47 rifles, maim, rape women, rob and destroy farm lands in some parts of the country only to get shielded from federal security agencies when the victims of their nefarious activities confront them.

He cited a recent incident at Awgu in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State where two women were raped and killed by the herdsmen who also destroyed their farm lands. But when they were confronted by the owners of the farm lands, the police at Zone 9 Umuahia ironically came and arrested about 76 farmers from the community, adding that they were getting protection from the federal government.

The Bishop said his worry was that the activities of these herdsmen directly impinge on both national and international security and wondered who arms the herdsmen with such sophisticated weapons.
“The whole thing borders on national security. Security of Nigerians. The country is becoming volatile. What we are talking about here is national and international security as it relates to cattle herdsmen. The question is, who has armed them with sophisticated weapons as AK47?”

The Bishop also picked holes with the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai for his discriminatory policies against Christians in his state and urged the federal government to call him to order.
He described the law made by the Kaduna State government banning Christians from preaching or spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the state as obnoxious and sentimental, stressing that the Church is averse to religious bigotry. He further alleged that some churches had been marked for demolition in Kaduna State by the state government.