At 50, Ekiti Anglican Church tasks Fayose on return of schools

As the Anglican church of Ekiti State celebrates its 50 years anniversary,

The Bishop of Anglican  Diocese  of Ekiti , Most Rev Christopher

Omotunde, has called on the Ekiti State government to without delay

return schools established  by the Church  to  it  for effective

management and to boost the standard of education in the state.

The Bishop who describing the taking over of the schools by government

as ‘a robbery action’, pointed out that the decadence and nosedived

standard in the quality of education  being witnessed in the country

could have been averted , if the schools  were still under the

management of the churches.

Addressing a press  conference in Ado Ekiti as part of the weeklong

activities heralding the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the diocese, the

Bishop said the church will also use the anniversary to immortalize  the late

Primate of the Anglican Communion and indigene of Odo Owa Ekiti, Most

Rev Abiodun Adetiloye  and other Bishops that had superintended over

the diocese, for their contributions and sacrifices .

Speaking further, the Bishop specifically urged  Fayose to without further delay

return schools established by  Anglican church to it for effective

management, pointing out that “Government  acted like armed robbers

by taking over schools they didn’t know the vision behind its establishment. It was

sad that the government In Nigeria, governments are bad managers and

you can see the damage they have done to schools established  by

missionaries across Nigeria.

“Former Governor Kayode Fayemi wrote to us on the need to take over

some schools and we replied back and indicated our intention to take

over some schools , but the process never reached the advanced stage

till  the expiration of his tenure. We have taken another bold steps

and we believe it will yield result under the present government”.

Omotunde who lamented  how   the facilities  at the Ile Abiye  hospital

established  by the church in Ado Ekiti  to enhance quality healthcare

delivery at affordable rate were  allegedly looted  and taken to

Ekiti State Specialists Hospital  ( now Ekiti State University

Teaching Hospital), added that this further confirmed  how destructive the

government could be.

The Bishop also warned the Christians’ Association of Nigeria(CAN)

against unnecessary conviviality with politicians , saying the

association is an organization set up to propagate the ideals of unity

and  spiritual growth of Christians  and  it should not deviate from

this vision.

The Cleric however disclosed that the diocese has made tremendous

impacts  in the spiritual lives of Ekiti people since its creation in 1966

by establishing many churches and school of Science and Technology

as well as Youth Skills Development centre to build human capacity.

The cleric  said the church is presently venturing into Estate

developing business being part of the efforts to boost the economy of

the state and make the church self-sustaining .