Cleric cautions Nigerians against bush burning

Cleric cautions Nigerians against bush burning
NAN-H-7
Tress
By Awayi Kuje
Akwanga (Nasarawa State), Jan. 19, 2018 (NAN) Rev. Caleb Ahima, the President of TEKAN, has cautioned Nigerians against bush burning and embrace tree planting to check deforestation.
TEKAN is Tarayya Ekklesiyoyin Kristti A Nigeria, meaning Fellowship of Christian Churches in Nigeria (FCCN).
Ahima made the call on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Alushi, Akwanga Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
Ahima said tree planting was important to the environment and national development.
The cleric said that Nigerians should be encouraged to avoid bush burning so as to spare the lives of animals and humans as well as the environment.
He also urged Nigerians to plant trees to replace the ones been deforested for the overall development of the country.
“A lot is happening that is aiding the devastating result of climate change and its threat to humanity. We can see the wanton and callous unclothing of the earth through extreme felling of trees and bush burning.
“Millions of trees are felled and new ones are not planted. Our generation lives as if the world was created for us alone, destroying both the vegetation and eating even the seedlings of land animals and the dwindling creatures of the waters,” he said
Ahima commiserated with victims of ongoing killings and other terrorist attacks in parts of Nigeria, particularly in Borno, Yobe, Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, Nasarawa, Rivers and Kwara states, among others.
He called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those involved in the wanton killings and destruction of lives and properties in the country in the interest of peace and to serve as deterrence.
“Government must be reminded of her constitutional responsibility of protecting all Nigerian lives and properties and this without any regard to creed or ethnicity.
“The law enforcement agencies and the judiciary must fulfil their constitutional roles so as to keep Nigerians and Nigeria protected,’’ the TEKAN president said.
Besides, he condemned hate speeches, incitement, unguarded and inflammatory statements made by some prominent Nigerians, calling on Nigerians to such acts.
The TEKAN president also called on Nigerians to be more committed in prayers for peaceful co-existence in the country, irrespective of ethnic, region and religion for the overall development of the country.
NAN reports that TEKAN is made of 15 different churches brought together to strengthen the unity of members and preach the gospel of Christ to Nigerians. (NAN)
AKW/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola