…By Emma Okereke (Owerri)…
The Prelate of the Living Christ Mission, The Most Rev. Daddy Hezekiah has criticize the new policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on cash day transactions in the country saying it is extortionist and fraudulent.
He said so, in an interview with Journalists at the church headquarters in Onitsha recently insisting that the policy was another way the rich wanted to continue to enrich themselves to the detriment of the poor.
The CBN has on October 1 this year begun its cashless policy which stipulates three percent “cash handing charge” on daily cash withdraws or cash deposits that exceed N500,000 (five hundred thousand Naira) for individual and N3,000,000 (three million Naira) for corporate bodies. This policy according to CBN is to reduce the amount of physical cash circulating in the economy and encouraging more electronic-based transactions.
But reacting to this, Hezekiah said “I look at it as extortion. This is because, if you are running a company, you pay tax to the government. If you deposit or withdraw up to N500,000, you pay three percent of that amount as service charge on your money. Again, if you issue someone with a cheque to the tune of N150,000, there is also some charge” he said, adding that the policy was multiple taxation.
He called on the federal government to intervene on the issue and save the people from the extortion, saying “you can imagine how much the three percent will amount to if I want to withdraw N100 million to build my university at Nkwerre in Imo State. It pains me a lot because this is people’s money that should not be tampered with.
On the privatization of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Rev. Hezekiah picked hole with the process, saying it should not have been privatized”.
He said however, that the bidding should have been made public and many people given the opportunity and time to participate, rather than selling it back to the people in government.
The man of God also used the opportunity to urge the federal government to look into the possibility of holding elections at the same period rather than some states holding their own at different time.
He said it would not only reduce tension but would help the country in reducing cost of holding elections.
The prelate whose ministry places great emphasis on Salvation Holiness and righteousness, without which no man can see God. Condemned prosperity gospel according to him it is an anti-thesis to “seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and every other thing shall be added to you.”
He also condemned same sex philosophy saying it is non biblical.
He also unfolded plans of the Church to celebrate its 30th Anniversary which would climax with a thanksgiving service on Dec. 29 this year.