Obasanjo is part of Nigeria’s problem–Bishop Chukwuma

Emmanuel Chukwuma

Emmanuel Chukwuma, the Anglican Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiasti­cal Province is reputed for speaking his mind on national issues without mind­ing whose ox is gored.

In this interview, he commented on diverse national issues in­cluding President Jonathan and General Bu­hari’s presidential candidacies, former Presi­dent Obasanjo’s controversial book and the alleged contempt of court issue which resulted from the book launch, as well as the politics of 2015 in Enugu State.

According to him, the Anglican Church will resist any attempt to deny the church the op­portunity of producing the deputy governor of Enugu State.

And on the fate of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Chief Ayogu Eze, and the parallel PDP governorship candidate of the state, the cleric said the best bet for the lawmaker is to sheath his sword and support Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who is the pre­ferred candidate of Enugu people.

Excerpts

What is your take on the recent controversial book launched by for­mer President Obasanjo, which has led to a face-off between him and some individuals?

As far as I’m concerned, I do not think that it was right for the court or anybody to bar the former President from launching his book because such action could be seen to imply that some people want to cover the truth.

Why were they asking him not to launch the book? Were they attempting to cover up something or what? If you are sincere, that what the man wrote in his book is not true, let the whole world look at it and see for them­selves.

So, preventing him from launching a book he has suffered to put together is like at­tempting to cover up one’s sins and it is not acceptable at all.

And if somebody realises that what he has done is not good, he should quickly repent and make amends.

But the truth is that the man at the centre of the whole issue – Obasanjo – is also part of the problem we have today.

Whatever problem we have today, he is part of the cause.

He is reaping the consequences of his selfishness which has now backfired on him.