The Anglican Church of Nigeria has during its 3rd session of the 16th Synod urged the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari to resign if he feels he can no longer serve as the Nigerian president.
As part of the decisions reached during the meeting, the Enugu Diocese of the Anglican Communion called on the president to vacate office as his continuous absence from the country is hurting the nation.
The call comes after the president left the country on May 7 for the United kingdom on health grounds.
As part of the decisions made by the church during her 3rd session of the 16th Synod which held at the Christ Redemption Church, WTC, Enugu, the Anglican church in a communiqué issued, signed by the Archbishop of the Enugu Province and Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, Ven. Augustine Orah, the Synod Secretary and the Registrar, Sir, (Barr) H.B.C Ogboko, the Church said President Muhammadu Buhari’s ill health “has kept him out of office for long, thereby impeding the growth of the nation.”
It added in the comminique released after the meeting: “The synod thereby prays God to grant him divine healing. The synod, however, observes that in the event where the President is unable to discharge his duties and or perform the functions of his office owing to ill health, he is enjoined to resign from the office.”
Reacting to the quit notice issued to the Igbo living in the North by the Arewa Youth and a Coalition of Northern Youth Groups, CNYG, the church warned against “the repetition of the pogrom of 1967 whereof the Igbos were massively and brutally massacred in the Northern Nigeria and calls on the Federal Government to ensure adequate protection of the lives and properties of Ndi Igbo residing in the Northern part of Nigeria.”
It further registered its sadness and disappointment that “despite the huge outcry and condemnation of the violent activities of Fulani herdsmen, they are found carrying arms used to attack, kill and maim innocent citizens in various communities across the nation.”
The statement added: “The Synod, therefore, implores the Federal Government to take proactive steps rowards check-mating the activities of these Fulani herdsmen.
“The Synod is deeply dissatisfied that the power situation in the country is degenerating and poor services being rendered by the DISCOS, yet electricity tariff is on the increase.
“The synod calls on the Federal Government to compel the DISCOS, particularly the EEDC to provide customers with prepaid metres and avoid imposition of estimated bills.”
While commending Buhari on the heightened war against corruption which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was playing a vital role in, the church warned the agency “to stop media trials of suspects in their custody and ensure the conclusion of investigations before arraignment and prosecution of alleged offenders.”