From Femi Oyelola, in Kaduna
The Archbishop of Anglican Communion, Kaduna Province, Most Rev. Timothy Yahaya has described Christmas as a time of love and hope when they should care for one another and work towards peace and harmony in the Country.
He recalled the first message of the Angel to the shepherds was fear not because a child is born and there is great joy in the whole world.
The Archbishop, in his Christmas message, therefore urged Nigerians not to fear or lose hope because the God that has been with them since creation is still the God that is with them today.
He encouraged them that all the hardships and other challenges they are passing through will soon be over, saying after the storm will come to a better and greater Nigeria.
He stressed that Christmas is a time for sharing, so he urged Nigerians to remember those who are downtrodden, those who are not privileged, those in the hospitals, the orphans, and even those who are in prisons.
He added that if society can remember them and put joy on their faces in times like this, it will be a great message that everyone is happy because a Savior is born.
The Archbishop, however, frowned at the escalating prices of essential commodities, which, according to him, is getting out of hand.
He attributed it to the gimmicks of greedy Nigerians and called on the Government to look at it critically, questioning how the price of a commodity can be different in the morning, the afternoon, and at night.
Speaking on the Tax Reforms debate, the Clergy opined that the tax reform bill is something that is going to stimulate the economy of this country, saying, “When we remain a country that is rent economy, I don’t think it’s the best.
“The sharing of money is not the best for any country. Go to America; some states are known for only oranges, and some are known for only apples.
“So what is a particular state in Nigeria known for? We are only known throughout the 36 States of the Federation for crude oil.
“Is that how we should be known? Some states should be known for the production of cocoa and rubber, and some states should be known for plantain.
“Some states should be known for the production of Ginger; some should be known for producing sorghums all over.
“I know some of the rice produced in this country, if we are going to produce rice, honestly, every part of the world will see our rice.
“But again, I say, in this country, when leaders don’t think outside the box and think of creating wealth but only think of sharing what we get from the ground, then there is a serious problem.
“The monies we have been collecting over the years, what have we done with it? How has it stimulated the development of this country?
“So, if everybody knows that what you farm or produce is what your family will eat, I think everybody will put on their thinking cap.
“And in the next five to ten years, Nigeria will be catching up with the First World; that is my belief, and there is no bias against it; that is my take on the tax reform bill.”
