From: Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Apparently overwhelmed by the hardship affecting the masses in the country, a cleric, Rev. Fr. John Aduba has tasked political office holders to provide the needed succour.
Fr. Aduba said the gap between political office holders and electorate was too wide and stressed the need to urgently bridge the gap.
He, therefore, challenged political office holders, who he insisted, were living in affluence, to also make life more comfortable and meaningful to the electorate who defied rains and scorching sun to vote them into offices.
The cleric handed down the task in a homily during the 60th birthday thanksgiving mass of the Senator representing Delta North, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, on Sunday at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Fr. Aduba urged politicians to be the voice of the voiceless, observing, that “there is a lot of sufferings and smiling, people are being denied the basic things of life, no road, no water, no electricity; you might be comfortable but, those who elected you to serve, how do they feel?”
He admonished Christians not to only receive the words of God but should treasure the words into practice.
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in a remark, appealed to the clergy to continue to offer their prayers to Nigeria.
“I want to assure the clergy that we will continue to seek for your prayers for this great country of ours; the challenges facing the country are enormous, it goes beyond roads and infrastructure; the peace and unity of this country is paramount and should be upheld but, equity and Justice where every Nigerian has a say must be the watchword,” Saraki said.
Also speaking, Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, enjoined the church not to relent in rendering prayers to the politicians.
His words: “The church should continue to pray for politicians for they work under very serious circumstances; we will continue to encourage ourselves to be good representatives of our people; we need the partnership of all Nigerians and Deltans to develop our communities and we will continue to support the Senate in its defense of democracy.”
Former Governor James Ibori in his speech, observed that “in a democratic dispensation, you have assigned duties it is the duty of the legislature to make laws, the executive to implement the laws and the civil society elders and clergy will tell the truth to those in power.
“I am yet to see an elected officer that does not have the interest of the people at heart.”