ANGLICAN bishops in Nigeria have abruptly ended their five-day Standing Committees’ retreat in Anambra State, following tomorrow’s sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The conference was scheduled to end tomorrow, but the 170 bishops attending the meeting did not want to risk being trapped, despite appeals by the Primate, Rev. Nicholas Okoh.
One of the bishops from the North, who spoke in confidence, told our reporter yesterday that their lives were precious.
The cleric said it was the reason for ending the meeting abruptly.
He said the IPOB sit-at-home order would hamper their activities and movement, if they continued their stay in Anambra State.
IPOB had ordered markets, banks and other institutions to shut down tomorrow, saying movements will be restricted in the Southeast and beyond, to protest the continued detention of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The bishop said: “There was no assurance that we are protected. We are human. So, we had to put our heads together and cut short the conference. That’s the most ideal thing to do in the circumstance.
“I will leave this evening (yesterday) and most others will do same. Those who can’t make it today will do so early tomorrow (today).
“There is no need waiting. It doesn’t make sense.”
Before ending the event yesterday, the Anglican bishops appealed to the Niger Delta militants to stop bombing oil facilities.
They also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to convene a roundtable with the agitators to address their grievances.
The bishops reminded the militants that shutting down the economy would not do anyone any good.
In an address, Primate Okoh also urged the Federal Government to disarm Fulani herdsmen who he said had murdered the nation’s peace.
He said: “The Standing Committee wishes to make passionate appeal to the militants to spare our economy and stop the bombing of oil facilities.
“Shutting down the economy is like pulling down the roof with all of us inside; nobody will escape the negative impact. We equally call on those who can reach them to join in this appeal for the good of all.