Act urgently, Nigeria is fast becoming a hostile, killing field – Lagos, Ibadan Catholic Bishops tell governments

By Neta Nwosu

Catholic bishops, under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) of the Lagos and Ibadan ecclesiastical provinces, have enjoined President Bola Tinubu to act urgently and put an end to the growing wave of insecurity, rampant violence and acute difficulties in the country. These calls were made in separate communiqués of the first plenary meetings of the Catholic bishops of the two ecclesiastical provinces held in Lagos and Ibadan respectively.

The bishops said the insecurity situation is depressing and hinders the general good of the nation. The Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, comprising Ibadan Archdiocese, Ilorin, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti and Osogbo Dioceses, noted: “Our dear country, Nigeria , is quickly becoming a hostile battlefield. The ship of the nation is sinking under the weight of pervasive insecurity, economic woes due to hyperinflation and the collapse of the naira, cybercrime, high cost of food, lackadaisical governance and widespread corruption. “Daily life is becoming a hardship for millions of Nigerians as pervasive poverty, fueled by a hostile environment, has pushed many to despair and even suicide. It would simply be hypocritical to attribute all the misery Nigerians are suffering today to changes in the global economy. ”

The truth is that Nigerians are often left to fend for themselves and at the mercy of the cruelest and most aggressive criminals, led by incompetent and selfish political and civil leaders. In all this, governments often seem weak, or even completely absent. It is even already too late to remedy the situation for many Nigerians who have lost their lives to terrorists, hunger, kidnappings and various disasters. “We implore urgent action from all our leaders to save the Nigerian ship from sinking. The much-vaunted revival of hope is turning into total despair in many places and there is not much time left.” In the statement by the Catholic Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ibadan, signed by Most Reverend ‘Leke Gabriel Abegunrin, President and Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Ibadan; and Most Rev. John Akin Oyejola, Secretary and Bishop of Oshogbo Diocese, the prelates deplored the violence and bloodshed that took place in their province.

They said: “We denounce the unfortunate events that have recently occurred on our doorstep, in our ecclesiastical province. We are shocked by the unfortunate kidnapping and assassination of two monarchs, the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and the Olumojo of Imojo Ekiti, Oba Samuel Olusola, in Ekiti State, as well than by the kidnapping of teachers and schoolchildren in the same State. The same unfortunate fate befell Oba Peter Segun Aremu, the Olukoro of Koro of Kwara State and the kidnapping of his wife and two others.

Fortunately, they have now been released. “This crime wave constitutes a brutal attack on our collective respect for traditional institution and decency. It signals the descent of our society into a Hobbesian state of nature, nasty, brutal, and short, even here in the Southwest. We also extend our condolences to the victims of the recent explosion in the Bodija area of ​​Ibadan. “In all this, we pay tribute to the sacrifice of our soldiers and security personnel who risk their lives for our security, some of whom were killed in the line of duty. May God rest the souls of the dead, comfort those who mourn, and provide for the needs of all those who have suffered heavy losses due to these events. We declare that it is time to put an end to this spiral of violence and bloodshed, before it becomes irreversible, by repositioning our security agencies to make them more preventive and proactive. » The prelates said all is not well in Nigeria and called for positive change. Their statement read in part: “We urge the majority of our leaders who speak and behave as if everything is fine to change their minds.

There is cause for alarm when corruption is rampant in all sectors and the government makes little effort to arrest and prosecute its perpetrators. Things are not under control as Nigerians are daily maimed, kidnapped and killed on our roads and even in their homes. “It is necessary to restructure our security apparatus and eliminate saboteurs where necessary so that they can collaborate and function optimally. Disaster looms when people starve and the living must steal or search for food to survive. “Elected officials are not elected to find excuses for problems, but to improve things. No more callous aides feeding the public lies and innuendo in order to mitigate government failure in the face of recurring disasters.

Nigerians deserve to know the truth about the agendas, activities and movements of their leaders. Any country run by corruption and lies will collapse under the weight of its self-inflicted evil. The time for positive change is running out. “Righteousness makes a nation great; by sin whole races are dishonored.” (Proverbs 14:34). In the same vein, during the first plenary meeting of the Catholic bishops of the ecclesiastical province of Lagos, which was attended by the archbishop and the bishops of the dioceses of Lagos, Ijebu-Ode and Abeokuta, the Bishops have expressed grave concerns about the state of our nation, as evidenced by increasing poverty, insecurity, kidnappings and the deteriorating economic situation.

Their statement signed by Most Reverend (Dr) Alfred Adewale Martins, President and Archbishop of the Lagos Metropolitan See; and Most Rev. Francis Adesina, Secretary and Bishop of Ijebu Ode, read in part: “We are very saddened that the living conditions of the people have deteriorated now. We therefore urge the government to demonstrate greater determination to alleviate the suffering of our people beyond the unsustainable palliatives currently being touted.

“We sympathize with all victims of insecurity: the ongoing massacres in their villages, which have become notorious since the Christmas Eve massacres in Plateau State, Southern Kaduna, among others; activities of kidnappers in the Federal Capital Territory; unknown gunmen in the Southeast and bandits in the North. We pray to God to grant eternal rest to the dead, healing to the injured, and restoration to the displaced. “We, however, call on our political leaders and security agencies to redouble their efforts and put an end to these threats to a good life. People are already tired and disregard the assurances that come from the government and security agencies after each destruction of lives and properties. » The bishops of Lagos Province have advised citizens to pray tirelessly and persist in holding their leaders accountable for their actions and inaction during their governance.