Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri
The Anglican Bishop of Okigwe South Diocese in Imo State, Rt. Rev. David Onuoha has called on the Governor Hope Uzodimma administration to make deliberate efforts to harness the agricultural potential of the state.
The call followed an acute hunger ravaging most indigent families in parts of the state following the lock down measures ordered by the state government to check the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking while distributing 1300 bags of 10 kg rice and about N4 million to 1300 indigent families within the diocese, on Monday, Bishop Onuoha expressed worry that the state cannot boast of any food item that is produced there in commercial quantity.
He said: “I want to use this opportunity to ask our people to open their eyes wide to see what God is actually showing us with this situation. It is very disturbing that all the relief materials being distributed in Imo State as palliatives come from other states. That we cannot boast of any food item that is produced here in commercial quantity is very shameful”.
While encouraging the people of the state to use the period of the lock down to massively engage in farming, the cleric urged the state government “to make a deliberate effort to harness the agricultural potential of the state to make Imo not only food sufficient but also a leading exporter of farm produce and other food items in Nigeria.”
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On the relief materials sent to the indigent families within the diocese, the prelate said, “This is our own little way of encouraging them to keep hope alive in this trying period”, adding that the diocese would continue the type of practical evangelism even after the pandemic.
While suggesting that government’s intervention in the way and manner of distributing food items should be reviewed to make it more regular and more enriching since the lock down is total, Bishop Onuoha advised that the government should device a means of monitoring the movement and distribution of palliatives being given out to the people to ensure that they truly get to those they were meant for.
The bishop also called on the federal and state governments to order the re-opening of worship centres to allow people to gather together and cry unto God to heal the country of the novel coronavirus currently ravaging the world.
He added that the solution to the pandemic lies more in the hand of God.
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