Assault on free speech: Choose your words, watch your steps, Archbishop Ibezim urges citizens

From Ngozi Omah, Awka
The newly enthroned Anglican Archbishop of the Niger Province, and the Bishop of Awka, Church of Nigeria, His Grace Rev Alexander Chibuzor Ibezim has cautioned citizens to mind their language and choose their words at this time that freedom of speech appear in systematic shackles.
Anchoring his 2019 Christmas message on the book of Luke 1:37, Archbishop Ibezim who addressed journalists during a solidarity/Christmas visit by the Catholic Bishops led by His Grace, the Archbishop of Onitsha Archdiocese, Rev Valerian Okeke at the Bishop’s Court in Awka Saturday said that even in homes every member chooses words carefully while addressing or interacting with one another in order not to overheat the atmosphere.

He said, “…even in homes couples are always careful of what they say to each other. While parents choose what they tell the children and vice versa. You can then imagine a very big country like Nigeria. We must be careful of what we say; because if trouble breaks out, the rich men will abandon their wealth and run away while leaving the poor behind to face the consequences. But whatever the situation, God has not abandoned the nation.
” I therefore urge everyone to say only things that will make the society healthy, and leave out those things that will make things volatile – for the sake of our children and loved ones.
“So let’s choose our words and not fight dirty. We believe that in the modern world there are things we should resolve amicably….”, the cleric stated.