Churches tasked on welfare of the poor

The challenge was given as the Head of Department of Philosophy and Religion, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Prof. Jerry Chidozie Chukwuokolo advocated the change of values through educating the people to anchor their values on ideals that transcend this life. This, he said, would help in reducing corruption in the society.Both Chief  Itanyi and Prof. […]

The challenge was given as the Head of Department of Philosophy and Religion, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Prof. Jerry Chidozie Chukwuokolo advocated the change of values through educating the people to anchor their values on ideals that transcend this life. This, he said, would help in reducing corruption in the society.
Both Chief  Itanyi and Prof. Chukwuokolo as well as other guests spoke at the one-day seminar organised by the Catholic Politics Commission, Enugu Diocese, to seek ways of ensuring good governance and reduction of corruption in Nigeria. The seminar with the theme, “Good Governance to Avert Catastrophe,” was the 5th in the series held at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu at the weekend.
In his nine-page paper entitled, “Good Governance as a Road Map to Prosperity,” Itanyi  said the church action “will be to minister to the sick, homeless, orphans, or abandoned children, the needy, those who are poor in spirit and the disabled.”
Itanyi said: “It is the duty of the church to speak on behalf of the poor and those who feel marginalised. It is the duty of the church to stand for the truth and be proactive in politics without being bound by loyalty to specific political party.”
He, however,   described good governance as the concept which centred on around the responsibility of governments and governing bodies to meet the needs of the masses, as opposed to select groups in society.
He explained that good governance would ensure that corruption is minimized, the views of minorities are considered and the voices of the most vulnerable in the society are heard in decision-making, adding that the concept was also responsive to the present and future needs of society.
According to Itanyi, good governance has eight characteristics such as accountability, transparency, rule of law, responsiveness, equity and inclusiveness. Others, he said, included effectiveness and efficiency, participation and consensus-oriented.
“Good governance requires consultation to understand the different interests of stakeholders in order to reach a broad consensus of what is in the best interest of the entire stakeholder group and how this can be achieved in a sustainable and prudent manner,” Itanyi said.
He emphasised that the church has a vital role to play in sustaining good spiritual life of the people to enable them achieve the goal of prosperity. “This is where the church has to play an important role because every nation needs God and the gift of the Holy Spirit,” he said.
In his paper entitled, “Facets and Ramifications of the Corruption cankerworm on the Body Politics and the sinews of The Country,” Prof. Chukwuokolo evaluated the implications of corruption for human kind, particularly Nigerians.
The university don outlined various forms of corruption ravaging the nation at different levels, such as petty corruption, grand corruption, systemic or endemic corruption, political corruption, police corruption, judicial corruption, corruption in labour unions, among others.
He asserted that “if we can change human nature that has enthroned corruption – a social virus that has crept into all our institutions especially the school that ought to serve as the ‘changer’ of man for better, then we are near to stemming the tide of corruption.”
He expressed the optimism that the church would join the crusade against corruption to “avert more trouble in our society as most people believe crimes as terrorism, armed robbery etc emanate from reactionary tendencies against political corruption.” He quickly remarked: “Where do we go with unbridled and primitive accumulation of wealth?”
He advised Nigerians to re-evaluate their values since they know where the problems are coming from. ENDS