Photos: Anglican priest celebrates Nigeria's 56th Independence at rubbish dump in Owerri

Rev. Canon Uche Chinamerem, a priest of the Anglican Diocese of Owerri and Chaplain of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Imo State University, Rev. Canon was pictured posing before a heap of refuse on Douglas Road, Owerri, on Saturday, while celebrating Nigeria's 56th independence Anniversary. Rev. Chinamerem, drank and shared wine with another man, while a group of traders watched the mild drama. Speaking to a journalist on the phone, the clergy said that he took the shots to protest the dirty lifestyle of people of the state and government negligence.

"I went to celebrate in front of the refuse dump because what is there is shameful. Let’s accept that the government refused to clear the refuse, how can a normal human being go to the market every day, trade within that dirty environment and think nothing about the refuse? Don’t we have market women association, community groups or vigilantes in the area? Obviously, they are waiting for the government to clear the refuse. In Igbo parlance, we say a rejected man does not reject himself. Why have we decided to reject ourselves? Why can’t we clear the refuse and tell the government that if it cannot be responsible, we are responsible citizens? So, this is not just about spiting the government, but telling our people to wake up and do the right thing when the government has failed."