Anglican Bishop Urges Church Leaders to Boldly Condemn Bad Governance and Hold Leaders Accountable

An Anglican bishop has delivered a fiery charge to religious leaders across the country, calling on clergymen to abandon complacency and speak truth to power regarding the escalating hardship and governance challenges facing ordinary Nigerians.

Speaking during a weekend pastoral service, the cleric expressed deep concern that the church risks losing its moral authority if it chooses to remain silent while citizens groan under the heavy weight of inflation, insecurity, and socioeconomic deprivation. He maintained that the pulpit must never become an echo chamber for political appeasement, stressing that men of God have a spiritual and civic obligation to defend the vulnerable.

“When the people are suffering, when the basic necessities of life are out of reach, and when leadership fails to deliver on promises, the church cannot afford to be neutral,” the bishop declared. “Silence in the face of oppression is a betrayal of our prophetic calling.”

The bishop pointedly criticized political officeholders at various tiers of government for administrative detachment, urging them to urgently re-prioritize people-oriented policies that alleviate poverty and restore public trust. He noted that true patriotism involves holding elected officials strictly accountable to their constitutional mandates, rather than offering blind loyalty or shielding ineptitude behind partisan divides.

While addressing the congregation on the prevailing economic realities, the prelate also encouraged citizens not to surrender to despair. He urged eligible voters to prepare for the democratic cycles ahead by looking past tokenism and demanding verifiable competence, integrity, and genuine service from anyone seeking public office.