By Emeka Odogwu
The Anglican Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Right Rev’d Samuel Ezeofor has appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state to ensure appointments into his cabinet are not one sided in terms of religious denominations in the State.
Bishop Ezeofor appealed to Governor Soludo to address the imbalance existing in the appointments he made recently which, according to him favoured Roman Catholic church members against other denominations.
‎The advice was contained in his charge during the third session of the seventh synod of Diocese of Aguata with theme, “God’s Great Task for the Church, The Great Commitment Raising a Godly Generation”, holding at St Andrews Parish Ezira in Orumba South LGA of the State.
‎The Anglican Bishop also urged the government to check the excesses of its security outfit, Agunaechemba vigilante group.
He alleged that the security outfit, established under the operation “Udo ga achi”, a joint task force appeared to be manifesting the same corruption that had been the bane of Nigerian security forces and outfits.
‎He said: ‎”Anambra State Government has good intentions in setting up the Operation Udo ga achi but the activities of its operatives is bringing a bad name to the government which needs to be addressed to give hope and confidence to the people,” he added.
President of Aguata Council of Knights, Sir Obiora Okeke in his remarks called on Christians to always maintain their pride as the salt and light of the earth in order to continue winning souls for Christ.
Responsing, the Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance, declaring that he serves as a governor for all residents of the state, regardless of their religious or traditional affiliations.
“I am the Governor of all denominations, Christians, Moslems, and traditionalists,” Soludo stated. “Everyone has the freedom of worship in Anambra. We are all one, and we must celebrate our common humanity.”
Reflecting on the current state of the world, the Governor warned against divisions, noting that humanity is currently under significant threat. He urged citizens to prioritize their shared human identity, expressing concern over the growing fragmentation he observed even within Christendom.
Governor Soludo articulated a clear vision for his administration’s recruitment policy, asserting that competence is the sole criterion for public service appointments.
“For me, it is about the value proposition you bring to the table,” he explained. “Most of the people I have appointed are chosen because they can get the job done.
The Governor further called for patience from the People of Anambra as his administration continues to work toward delivering its developmental agenda, reiterating, “Whoever can get the job done is the person I will hire.”
The Governor also commended the church for a new nursing school in Isulo. He framed such efforts as vital contributions to the state’s progress.
“We are building our own institutions, but I encourage you to invest more in education and health. It can never be enough,” Governor Soludo remarked. He advised religious leaders to be mindful of the economic realities of their parishioners, urging them to align development projects with the “paying capacity” of the people.
