religion
Insurgency: Catholic Bishops of Nigeria Call On FG to Ensure Prompt Restoration of Peace ….Condemns Violence in North East
Francis Sadhere
The Catholic Bishops of Nigeria have called on the Federal Government to ensure prompt restoration of peace in the country following the incessant wanton destruction of life and property, especially in the North Eastern parts of Nigeria, condemning violence in whatever excuse and region of the country.
The Catholic Bishops of Nigeria stated this, yesterday in a communiqué signed by the President of Conference and Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev. Ignatius Ayau Kaigama and the Secretary and Bishop of Gboko, Most Rev. William A. Avenya and issued at the end of the second plenary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) held in Warri, Delta State.
“In the face of this Boko Haram and other criminal militias arming themselves beyond our legitimate government and brazenly killing innocent, defenseless citizens, our government must do more than it is currently doing to safeguard our lives and defend our nation,” the Bishops said.
They added that the Federal Government must do more than it is currently doing to fight off and disarm the actual destroyers of Nigeria and Nigerians and prevent a segment of the nation from drifting into anarchy and mutual self-destruction with a view to bringing them to justice.
According to the Bishops, “Our second Annual Plenary meeting in Warri Diocese, Delta State, has been daily strained by first-hand and horrifying reports reaching us from Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Kano and Kaduna states about the mass slaughter of fellow Nigerians; the burning and sacking of whole villages and churches and rectories. Families and individuals are forced to seek places of refuge outside their invaded homes and land.”
The Bishops said that as the nation tragically bleeds and burns, they were alarmed at the scale of human, material destruction, and the disruption of villages and community life with increased levels of hatred and potentials for more conflicts in the nation.
“We condemn violence on whatever excuse and from whatever direction. We condemned it, above all, when the perpetrators blasphemously and fraudulently claim religious justification for their actions. We deeply regret and condemn in strong terms the wanton loss of life and property caused by the armed group called Boko Haram,” said the Bishops.
They also lamented that the situation in the North Eastern part of the country had confirmed further killings, burnings and fleeing of defenseless Nigerians creating a heightened sense of unrest and siege for the whole nation.
The Catholic Bishops therefore, warned all Nigerians to be alert to the grave danger facing all, adding that “the issue is not about who becomes president, governor or senator after the 2015 General Elections. The issue is about the life and security of every one of us who loves his or her life and really cares about our living together in peace as noble Nigerians.”
In the light of security situation in the country and in keeping with their calling as religious leaders, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria disclosed of their resolution to organize a national all-night prayers scheduled for 13th and 14th November 2014 at Abuja
While urging the government and every endowed Nigerian to reach out in charity and solidarity to rehabilitate and support all those displaced as a result of the crisis, the Bishops said “these are critical times for our country and everyone in position of authority must do everything possible to save our dear country, Nigeria.”
Meanwhile the communiqué also commended the Federal Government for taking prompt action to stop the spread of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) from spreading to other parts of the country, calling on Nigerians to carry out periodic medical checkups and a healthy pattern of living to curtail the spread and transmission of the virus.
On the 2015 General Elections, the Catholic Bishops called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to improve on its responsibility in order to fully guarantee the rights of citizens to elect leaders of their choice.
They said; “In the same manner, we call on Nigerians to have a change of mentality, inspired by the sense of common good, equity, justice and peace. We call on government at all levels to provide the enabling environment for everyone to exercise this fundamental right without fear, favour and intimidation. Let us eschew the unwholesome activities that usually characterized our electioneering process, such as thuggery, maiming, murder, bullying and violence of any kind, which are affront in the dignity of the human person. More so, rigging of votes steals away the people’s mandate, causing disharmony and conflict.”
While admitting that the journey to nationhood may be long and tortuous, the Catholic Bishops lamented that corruption was ferociously destroying the fabric of the society, adding that the country’s unity was on trial due to waves of criminality and terrorism.
“Generally, there is cynical abuse of power in governance with impunity, to the extent that the rights of citizens are constantly violated. When good governance is absent, patriotism is hardly possible or sustainable. Ethnicity is generally blamed as the bane of our journey to nationhood. It is known, however, that good governance contributes to turn ethnicity into a rich asset for mutual exchange, healthy rivalry, cooperation and solidarity.
“Nigeria needs leaders with courage, vision and an authentic sense of patriotism with political will to change the pattern of life of our society. Leaders should set examples of stewardship, accountability and transparency, in order to be trustworthy custodians of our land,” the communiqué stated.
On the just concluded national conference, the Catholic Bishops prayed for the courage and political will needed by the nation’s leaders to seriously consider the resolutions in the report of the conference, for the good and development of the nation.
