Bishop Ezeokafor Lauds Road Safety, Fetes Journalists .. Seeks diversification of Nigerian economy

BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA

The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese His Lordship Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor has lauded the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Anambra Command for their work ethics and for mapping out numerous programmes which geared towards reducing road crashes on the highways to the barest minimum

Bishop Ezeokafor who gave the commendation at St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral, Awka when the men of FRSC called on him, urged Ndi Anambra to obey all road rules and regulations noting that one life lost could not be replaced

He decried the lackadaisical attitude of some private and commercial bus drivers who often constitute nuisance on road with their reckless driving and over-speeding noting that if all road rules would be applied by the drivers just like their counterpart in developed countries the rate of road accident in the country would be reduce drastically.

He reiterated the Church's readiness to continue to partner with them even as he said he would not hesitate to grant them any request that would facilitate the message of ensuring safety on the highways assuring them that he would ensure that the message got to all the parishes in Awka and beyond.

Speaking on the essence of their visit, the Anambra State FRSC sector commander, Mr. Sunday Ajayi said they came to familiarized with the bishop and also intimate him on their various policies and programmes noting that they needed to partner religious leaders in their onerous task of ensuring safety on the highways.
He said the men and officers of the command were out to the Churches, market places, schools, hospitals sensitise the public on the need to adhere strictly to traffic rules

Mr. Ajayi said with their support and encouragement the command would carry out its assignment efficiently and effectively noting that hoped that the enlightenment campaign they embarked upon would yield the desired result.

Meanwhile, this year’s bishop Ezeokafor's media parley provided the of pen profession opportunity to interact with the bishop and also to ask religious and secular questions

Interacting with newsmen, Bishop Ezeokafor appealed to them to always balance their report before going to press noting that imbalance report could send wrong signals to the general public thereby threatening the unity of the country and as well overheat the polity.

He urged them not allow the hazard in their profession to deter them from carrying out their legitimate assignments and prayed God to continue to guard them.

Speaking on economy, the bishop called on government and key economic policy makers to expand the revenue base of the country .

He expressed worry over the dwindling oil price at the world market, saying that the trend was dangerous for any economy that operated mono export basket.

The Catholic prelate who termed his message as ‘message of hope’ urged Nigerians to display the love God gave the world through Jesus Christ’s birth in their dealings with their fellow men.

Bishop Ezeokafor blamed politicians for poor and inequitable distribution of the nation’s commonwealth, adding that the social disturbance in the world and Nigeria in particular, was caused by poor economic situation.

He called on governments at all levels to rise to their responsibilities as they had not demonstrated love by not using the resources given by God to enrich themselves at the expense of the masses.

The local ordinary, said the outgoing year was not an easy one for the Christians' s world as the Church experienced challenges which included violence , social incursion and neo-paganism.

'The Church has passed through some persecution in the out going year, we have the killing of Christians in some parts of the country and not just the Christian only but even non Christian, these merchants of death must stop their wickedness as they can not recreate the lives they are destroying, 'he said.

On the issue of Neo - paganism, he expressed sadness over the callous nat