From Fred Ezeh, Abuja and Tony Osauzo, Benin
Catholic Bishops under the umbrella of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) have raised the alarm over state of the nation, saying the country was passing through its darkest history.
It specifically decried the rising insecurity across Nigeria, which it said has made churches and other worship centres vulnerable to attack.
The CBCN stressed the need for precautionary measures to secure church premises and other church institutions, hence it direct all dioceses and churches to take an improved measures to beef up security in their local assemblies.
CBCN President, Most. Rev Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, disclosed the development in his speech during the opening session of the 2022 second plenary assembly held at the Sacred Heart Pastoral Centre, Oriu, Imo State, yesterday.
“We are passing through what might be deemed as the darkest chapter of our history as a nation. Extreme poverty, soaring unemployment rate, spiralling inflation, collapsed economy with increased debt burden and worsening insecurity. These have complicated the plight of the average Nigerian who appears condemned to a life of intolerable hardship and undeserved misery.
“Nigeria has continued to bleed endlessly as a result of the ungodly activities of insurgents, bandits, militant herdsmen, unknown gunmen, kidnappers and trigger-happy security agents. Nowhere seems safe anymore as homes, farmlands, markets, highways, places of worship and presbyteries have all been turned into kidnapping and killing fields. Innocent citizens are butchered with savagery and brazen impunity by criminals who lack the sense of the sanctity of human life.”
The CBCN suggested that way out of the quagmire is through good governance that aims at the common good.
“Good governance generates peace which is the bedrock of development. It takes root when people’s dignity and rights are respected, when there is the mile of law, when citizens are not excluded from political participation, when there is equitable distribution of national resources and people are free from hunger, poverty and unemployment.
“It is belabouring the obvious to observe that lack of good governance results in extreme poverty, unemployment, hardship, crime and violent conflicts. In these difficult times, we cannot but stress that the first responsibility any government owes its citizens is the security of their lives and property. Nigerians have the right to live in a secure and safe country. This is basic; every other thing flows from it.
“After the heavy annual budgets on security and after repeated assurances by government that it is on top of the matter, our country is still plagued by insecurity. This is a shame. Government must wake up to its responsibilities. Given that government seems overwhelmed in securing us, dioceses have been asked to take adequate measures to beef up security in parishes, presbyters and other Church institutions.”
The CBCN also claimed that rising insecurity and worsening economic situation have led to migration and brain drain, stressing that professionals and skilled labourers were leaving Nigeria in thousands annually in search of safety and security, job opportunities and better standard of living abroad, especially in Europe, United States and other African countries.
“Undoubtedly, regular remittances from these migrants help to alleviate poverty among households left behind and impact positively on our national economy as a major source of inflow of foreign earning. Be that as it may, professionals and skilled labourers, who would have helped in national development, are lost to the country. This is only one side of the story.
“The other side of the story, which is more of a national disgrace is that thousands of young men and women, who in search of greener pastures, embark on perilous journey to Europe across the Sahara desert, and along the way, some die and are buried in unmarked graves. Others are trafficked for slave labour, sexual exploitation and organ harvesting. Many get drown as they try to crossover the Mediterranean Sea with rickety and risky boats. Those who are lucky to make it to their final destinations end up in camps for asylum seekers, where they are at times subjected to sub-human conditions.
“Despite the collaborative efforts of the Police, Customs, Immigration, Network Against Child Trafficking Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to tackle human trafficking in Nigeria, traffickers are having field day.
“This despicable modern day slavery is booming because it has become a lucrative business and also as a result of the high level of corruption underpinning it. Out of desperation to escape from extreme poverty and support their poor families financially, some young girls, with the support of their parents, volunteer themselves to be trafficked for prostitution, without being aware of the level of exploitation and dehumanisation awaiting them.”
Inspite of the numerous challenges, the President, Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Isreal Akanji, has urged Nigerians to be hopeful and make positive utterances about the nation, saying as Jesus Christ lives, all shall be well with Nigeria.
Rev. Akanji gave the admonition in Benin, yesterday, at an Interdenominational service held to mark the 88 birthday of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin kingdom.
The Baptist Convention President in his sermon on the birthday celebration theme: ‘Because He lives’ noted that though the country is presently bedeviled with all sorts of terrorism including banditry, said because Jesus Christ lives, all shall be well with Nigeria.
“In Nigeria, in a time we are facing so much insecurity, in a country that is so much blessed and yet the people of the country are suffering.
“What has God not given to us, good rainfall; good vegetation; we can plant and eat anywhere; we plant throughout the year.
“Nigeria is blessed but look at the degree of insecurity; look at the way human beings are being killed. Terrorism, banditry, all kinds of evil going on in this country.
“But I want to tell us that, this theme ‘because He lives’ must therefore turn all of us from being doubtful to being hopefully of our nation; and be more stronger people. Stop confessing the negativity and be pronouncing positive things about this nation.
“Because Jesus lives, he is continuously interceding for us as a nation.
“This celebration is good news to all Nigerians, to every family, to every individual that because he lives, tomorrow will be better today”, the Baptist President assured.