Obi Tasks Clerics On Hard Work, Sincerity

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra has urged clerics in the country to emphasize hard work and sincerity to their members instead of preaching material acquisition.

Obi made the appeal in Onitsha, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the priesthood of Archbishop Valerian Okeke, the Archbishop of the Catholic Arch-Diocese of Onitsha.

He advised the men of God to re-direct the minds of their flock to virtues and principles of good living “even in the drive for the good things of life’’.

Obi said that it was abnormal for religious leaders to psyche people with lofty dreams and attainments that were imaginary and difficult to achieve except they engaged in stealing and other vices.

“Our religious leaders should dissuade the people from this growing notion of get rich syndrome without work or principle and inculcate in them discipline and hard work to enable them set the right examples,’’ he said.

Obi said the state government was considering returning hospitals previously owned by the churches back to them just as it had already done with schools.

“It is unfortunate that day-to-day we continue to see teachers and doctors that are not committed to service,’’ he said.

The governor, however, said that the church and government would continue to work together for the “improvement of the welfare of the citizens’’.

Earlier, former CBN governor Chukwuma Soludo had urged the church to use the available social and internet avenues to impact positive virtues on the society.

“This is an internet age, and the church must get abreast of this, and use this to mould the secularism and social movements that is going on throughout the World today,’’ he said.

On her part, Prof. Dora Akunyili, former Minister of Information and Communication, while recounting Okeke’s numerous works of charity, described him as a gift to the world.

The occasion also featured the launching of books on the celebrant and cutting of the anniversary cake.