Rt. Rev. Josiah Fearon, the Metropolitan Bishop of Kaduna Anglican Cathedral, on Friday admonished petroleum dealers and other businessmen in the country to fear God and stop exploiting the masses.
The cleric gave the warning while speaking with newsmen shortly after the Christmas service held at the Cathedral of St Michael in Kaduna.

“The present hardship Nigerians are experiencing with fuel supply does not speak well of the oil merchants who are bent on making maximum profit at the expense of the poor masses,” he said.

Fearon urged the country’s political leaders to focus priority attention on how to transform the people’s living standards and “stop abusing the opportunity God has given them to govern the country.”He called on the affluent in the society to assist the less-privileged and bridge the “wide gap between the rich and the poor in the country, irrespective of ethnic or religious considerations’’.Besides, Fearon called on Christians to have a better understanding of their religious obligations, while promoting the country’s peace and development.

“We need peace in Nigeria, as peace aids development. There is no country on the entire African continent that is like us.‘As Nigerians, we could teach the whole world the secret of religious tolerance by imbibing the spirit of respect and understanding.

“We call on our religious leaders to humble themselves by not only learning a bit more about their neighbours’ faith but also by encouraging their followers to do the same.

‘They should stop teaching things that are not true about other persons’ religions,’’ he said.

Fearon particularly urged Nigerians to pray for the recuperation of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. NAN reports that most residents of the Kaduna metropolis trekked to nearby churches to attend the Christmas services because of the protracted fuel scarcity and its negative effects on transportation in the area.

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