Anglican bishop urges more commitment to war against corruption

Condemns craze for wealth among youths
The Bishop of Ekiti West Diocese, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Rt. Rev. Rufus Adepoju, yesterday urged the Federal Government to do more than it is doing currently if the war against corruption is to be won. Adepoju also condemned the craze for wealth among Nigerian youths, which had driven many of them into Internet fraud.

The bishop, who promised that the church would continue to speak against the ills in the society, advised those seeking political positions to do so with fear of God and remember the day of accountability. While lamenting that the Nigerian system turns a good person that has intention of doing well in office to a monster after assuming power, Adepoju stressed that the church will not keep quiet until the right things are done in the polity.

The cleric spoke yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, as part of activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Diocese of Ekiti West.The bishop noted that there should be conscious efforts towards re-orientating the youths for them to channel their energy towards godly venture rather than involvement in criminal activities.

“If yahoo yahoo should exist at all, it should not be in Ekiti. It is now in Ekiti but the end of it is disaster,” he said.Speaking on the state of the nation, Adepoju, who faulted wastage in governance in Nigeria and naked show of power by political office holders some of whom parade the streets with long convoy of vehicles in the midst of poverty among ordinary Nigerians, said: “You know a man of God through his relationship and messages to his people. Our own system of government and politics are porous and give room to nonsense.

“Does the system allow somebody who wants to do what is right to follow his covenant with his bishop? If he is trying to be meticulous and do what is right, they will teach him to do evil things.“The church is trying. In the time of Jesus Christ, there was corruption, there was stupidity but judgment time will come and nobody can escape it.

“It cannot be that all politicians are bad but the percentage (of the good ones) may be too low. Jesus Christ said people would have itching ears because they will not want to hear.“When they are going in there, their intention is to make a change but the devil is packaging lots of things to disorganise the system.”