Bishop of Ife Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Oluranti Odubogun, has advised that election into political offices in future general elections should be based on merit, for the country to make “remarkable success” in critical areas of the nation.
In a statement announcing the third Synod of the diocese, the cleric noted that there was need to cut cost in the running of government.
He decried the frightening dimension that insecurity and corruption have assumed in the land in the quest for national development.
While acknowledging marginal progress in the agriculture sector to boost food production in the country, the cleric praised the effort of the federal government, particularly the unrelenting effort of the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, in combating the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) imported into the country by the late Liberian, Patrick Sawyer.
The synod, which has the theme ‘To God be the glory’ holds at St. Phillip’s Anglican Church, Aiyetoro, Ile Ife, Osun Stat,e between September 25 and 28, 2014.
Odubogun said: “In choosing political office holders from the president to governors and local government chairmen, as well as lawmakers, ability to perform should be our watchword.
“It is believed that government will take note of this and other deficits and remove all obstacles in the way of achieving remarkable success in more aspects of the country’s health services.
“Many of the ills, which have been plaguing this country over the years, have remained unresolved, with some of them assuming more frightening dimension. Corruption and insecurity are competing for the leading position. Armed robbery and assassination retain their place as twin brothers in crime. Tribalism and religious intolerance are still very much with us, almost 54 years after Independence.”
Sympathising with the families of the abducted Chibok girls, the cleric observed that “the ease with which Boko Haram carry out their deadly attacks on security bases, equipment and security operatives” was baffling.
On the state of education in the country, the Gospel minister called on the federal government to avert future strike by academic unions in higher institutions by attending to their agitations on time.