Bishop Ebirien Charges Politicians, Youth On Peace

Ahead of the gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections on Saturday, the Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta, Rt. Rev. Ralph C. Ebirien has charged politicians and youths in Rivers State to avoid a repeat of the ugly incidents that characterised the February 23rd Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Bishop Ebirien while handing down the admonition at a Pre-Synod Music Concert organized by the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Hospital Road, Port Harcourt, decried the sad scenario which played out at Abonnema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area during and after the last elections.
According to the esteemed man of God, “Nigeria belongs to nobody and it’s not worth dying for. Niger Delta youths should not volunteer to die for Nigeria because of money”.
He said that rather than sacrificing their lives on the altar of money, youths should excise their powers on things that would please and promote the work of God, pointing out that the lives of Niger Delta youths were precious to God and should not be wasted.
“Youths should not allow themselves to be manipulated into committing atrocities such as killing, kidnapping, political thuggery and others for selfish end that will not last forever”, Ebirien stressed and urged parents to monitor and control their children.
In his sermon, The Very Rev. Richard Hart, regretted that mankind was destroying the handiworks of God on the earth through water and pollutions because of money, pointing out that the anger of God would step in if it continues.
Speaking in an interview with The Tide, an elder states woman and wife of the late legal luminary, Gani Fawehinmi Dame Henrietta, stressed the need for youths to have the fear of God in all their dealings and shun any act capable of ruining their future.
Dame Fahwehinmi, who is rated as the oldest living female chorister in the Anglican communion in Rivers State, called on security agents that would be drafted to the various polling stations during the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections to do their job diligently just as youths should maintain peace during the electioneering process.

Shedie Okpara