April 23, (THEWILL) – Following the high rate of insecurity in the country, which has led to the large scale displacement of people, the Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Calabar, has called on the federal government to put on hold the national population and housing census scheduled to commence next month.
The Diocese made this known in a communiqué issued at the end of it’s 47th Annual Synod, which was held at Wesley Cathedral, Calabar.
This year’s 2023 Synod had as theme: “Contending for the faith”, in consideration of the prevalent moral decadence and heresy in the society.
The Communiqué read in part, “Taking into consideration, the high level of insecurity in the country, where some areas are being occupied by Boko Haramists, bandits and other undesirable elements, who visit mayhem and their reign of terror on the helpless inhabitants, it would be impossible for the enumerators to access such trouble spots.
“Synod calls for the putting on hold of the Nationwide population census slated to commence on the 3rd May, 2023 pending when the security will improve.”
The communiqué was signed by Most Rev. (Amb.) Chimezuo Nwankpa, JP the Methodist Arch Bishop of Calabar.
Other signatories are the Lay President Dame Prof. Mirinda Dosunmu, KJW, as well as Elder Offisong Unoh, Chairman of the Communiqué Committee.
The Synod, in the Communiqué, also lamented the high unemployment rate in Nigeria and advised the youths and the unemployed to engage in skills acquisition and employ same to earn dignified livelihood and escape the clutches of poverty and frustration.
The Synod frowned at the harsh economic situation in the country where majority of the citizenry exist on the breadline and called on President Buhari to revive the economy.
The Synod sympathised with victims of the Ukraine-Russian and the perennial Isreal-Palestine wars, as well as the Sudan crisis.
They called for God’s intervention in the cessation of hostilities and also tasked the federal government on the evacuation of it’s citizens.
The Synod appealed to all aggrieved contestants in the just concluded general elections to seek redress in the law courts rather than resorting to unlawful means.
The Synod exhorted all Nigerians to show love and tolerance to one another and not allow our varies ethnicities, religious beliefs, languages et al to cause division among us.
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
