By Timothy Ekpo
IKOT EKPENE
The Methodist Church Nigeria, Ikot Ekpene Diocese, has called on the federal and state governments to use the forthcoming general elections in 2023 as a factor that would unite the country above personal, sectional, religious and partisant interest for growth and stability.
The church made the call in a seven-point communique issued at the end of its 46th annual synod which recently took place at the Ikot Ekpene Diocese of the church.
In the communique signed by the diocessan lay president, Sir Godfrey Bartepeh, KJW, secretary, Rev. Chris Akpan, JP, the archbishop of Ikot Ekpene, His Grace, Rev. Etim Ekong, JP and the diocesan public relations officer, Elder Ubongabasi Equot, the synod urged the federal, state governments, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC,) and relevant agencies to ensure that the 2023 general election is devoid of violence, is transparent and generally accepted.
Synod appealed to government at all levels to do everything within its powers to take Nigeria out of the present economic predicament that is biting hard on the common man and went further and drew the attention of government to the plight of students and lectures at the nation’s Ivory tower and urged government to put in place appropriate mechanism that would enable the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to end the ongoing strike.
The MCN synod called on government to create an enabling economic environment for the provision of soft loans, adequate power supply, good road network and extension of the rail way services to the South South geo-political zone with a view to awakening interest in individuals, private and foreign investors to venture into agricultural and industrial businesses.
It urged the creation of job opportunities for the overblowingyouths in the labour market to check the rate of unemployment, banditry and restiveness in the country.
The synod commended the Akwa Ibom government under the leadership of Mr Udom Emmanuel for the renovation work at Ikot Ekpene General Hospital, and appealled that the health facility be equipped to meet the challenging health needs of the state.
The Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Ikot Ekpene, also requested the Akwa Ibom Government, to consider the reconstruction of Spring Road in Ikot Ekpene to provide access to Goretti Girls Secondary School.
Synod also called on Methodists and all Christians to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ, as reflected in the conference’s theme, Prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, drawn from Revelation 22:12
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