Follow Us on Google
From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. (Dr) Ignatius Kaigama, has said that despite opposition from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and different political figures, as well as stakeholders to the choice of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket by the All Progressives Congress (APC), a deaf ear was turned to those voices.
In this exclusive interview with Sunday Sun from Orlu, Imo State, where the former President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) is attending the 2022 second plenary of the CBCN, Kaigama also said that the choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by the APC goes to show that there is a certain tone deafness with the nation’s political leadership.
The immediate past Archbishop of Jos said: “They simply go the way they choose or do only what is politically expedient for them. In a fragile country like Nigeria, where mutual distrust, suspicion and even mutual hostile religious antagonism has become the order of the day, the last thing one should do is to stoke the embers of religious differences.”
Kaigama who further spoke on the security situation in the country, submitted that all hope was not lost. He, however, said that it was high time the government and international policing institutions commissioned a proper investigation into the now easy and profitable kidnapping business to expose those making lucrative deals from the misery of unfortunate Nigerians. Excerpt:
Elections are around the corner and insecurity in the country is not abating. What is your major fear security-wise, as we approach the 2023 general election?
At this point, it should be clear to the authorities that the existing strategy to stem insecurity and foster peace is not working. However, all hope is not lost. The government can still do the needful by changing or redesigning the existing strategy towards achieving security in the country. Furthermore, the government should open up discussion, debate and dialogue at different levels, with a view to finding lasting solutions to the problem of security. The president must be seen to be addressing this issue with utmost seriousness and maximum dispatch and all hands must be on deck to help him frontally address this menace. The fear that elections may not hold because of insecurity, even though to my mind, is far-fetched and alarmist, Nigerians have reasons to worry.
Recently, we have noticed that kidnappers are after priests. What could be responsible for that? Could it be that Churches pay huge ransom to kidnappers?
As a matter of policy, the Church doesn’t pay ransom to kidnappers. The Catholic Church has a policy of not acceding to ransom demand, although the victim’s family can. Today, priests have become one of the most vulnerable segments of Nigeria’s population. A priest’s itinerary can be easily monitored and tracked; this makes them soft targets for attacks. There are probably some nefarious reasons priests have suddenly become targets for kidnappers. God will not allow His priests to suffer unjustly in the hands of evil men. At the end, good will overcome evil. We, however, advise priests to be security conscious and guard against an ostentatious way of life. We pray for the peaceful and eternal repose of the priests who have lost their lives through kidnapping and call on the government to live up to its responsibility as enshrined in the Constitution, which is the protection of life and property of its citizen irrespective of ethnic and/or religious persuasion.
What is the way out of the situation?
The rate of kidnapping in the country has reached a tipping point. The failure of security agents to respond promptly to kidnapping incidents will continue to raise suspicion about their seriousness in halting this diabolic enterprise. It is high time the government and international policing institutions commissioned a proper investigation into this now easy and profitable kidnapping business to expose those making lucrative deals from the misery of unfortunate Nigerians. For whatever it is worth, we are compelled to appeal to the conscience of these bandits and their collaborators to stop this inhuman activity and leave the clergy to their selfless duty of preaching the gospel of peace, love, harmony, social justice, etc.
Is the Catholic Church considering the establishment of a security outfit across the country to protect its priests or it has decided to rely solely on divine protection?
It is important to rely on divine protection. The word of God, which is our primary constituency says, “Without me you can do nothing” (John 15:1-7). We will, therefore, continue to live and propagate this all-important message. However, it is also vital to note that the formation of just structures, like a security outfit is not directly the duty of the Church. This belongs to the world of politics or government. The primary responsibility of government, as enshrined in the Constitution, is the protection of life and property of its citizen irrespective of ethnic and/or religious persuasion. The failure to protect the people is put squarely at the doorstep of the Federal Government that has lost the capacity to rein in sundry cartels of gunmen who now terrorize different places, particularly, without let or hindrance.
Recently, we saw the difficulties faced by politicians and their parties in the choice of their running mates in terms of balancing of faith where we witnessed the All Progressive Congress (APC) fielding a Muslim-Muslim Ticket. Is there anything wrong with that considering that we witnessed the same in 1993 when Abiola and Kingibe were accepted by Nigerians?
The Catholic Church has consistently been voicing out strongly against inequality, injustice, oppression and lack of fair play in virtually every aspect of human endeavour, including the political arena. In the run-up to the decision for a Muslim-Muslim ticket by one of the political parties, voices like CAN, different political figures and stakeholders had already expressed their complete disapproval of that decision. Unfortunately, a deaf ear was turned to those voices. This goes to show that there is a certain tone deafness with our political leadership. They simply go the way they choose or do only what is politically expedient for them. In a fragile country like Nigeria, where mutual distrust, suspicion and even mutual hostile religious antagonism has become the order of the day, the last thing one should do is to stoke the embers of religious differences.
Before now, many believe that religious leaders can intercede for the people and the nation in times of difficulties – that they will talk to God and God will listen. But it appears that they have abandoned the people or God is no longer listening to them because hardship is increasing and the people are suffering and dying. What are the religious leaders doing in terms of intercession and prayers?
Your question betrays an overly pessimistic assessment of the Nigerian scenario and a complete misunderstanding of the concept of prayer and trust in divine providence. The fact of the matter is that God is still on the throne and He is in charge and in control of all reality. That is our belief. The religious leaders are doing their utmost in terms of praying for their people and drawing them closer to God. However, when we pray, we don’t give God a time-frame, a condition or even an ultimatum. We allow him to answer in his own way and in his own time. Even though some aspects of our day-to-day life has deteriorated, due to bad and corrupt governance, I believe there is still reason to hope and to see light at the end of the tunnel.
We are at the twilight of the Buhari administration. When he was coming to power, he made three important promises to fight insecurity, eliminate corruption, and boost the economy. Now that he is going, do you think that he has delivered on these promises?
Peace-building and nation-building are never completed tasks. Every generation has to establish national cohesion and peace. Besides, governance should be a continuum. However, there are wide allegations that corruption is still going on with impunity. Even at this moment, security remains the greatest challenge facing the nation. The economy is nose-diving, evidenced by the current inflationary trends, resulting in high living conditions. However, the blame should not be placed squarely on the President and his administration alone. Nigeria belongs to all of us and every one should make an examination of conscience to see where we have failed to live up to our responsibilities as patriotic citizens.
What agenda do you want to set for those who will take over in 2023?
The political task is not the immediate competence of the Church. The Church is the advocate of justice and of the poor precisely because she does not identify with partisan political interests. The temptation to ally the Church with a particular political party and its programme is perennial and when that temptation is not resisted, it invariably leads to trouble, politically and more importantly, evangelically. It is not the job of the bishops to enter into political debates, but to teach based on the gospel and Catholic Social Teachings and let the lay people in governance create very much needed just policies. Having said that, it is vital to observe that the affirmation, “Jesus Christ is Lord” is the first and final assertion Christians make about all reality, including politics. It is, therefore, incumbent on all Christians to play politics for God’s glory and according to his will. See, judge, act, has been the method by which modern Catholic social teaching has urged Catholics to approach the political and economic challenges of our time. The “seeing” involves looking with the eyes of Christ rather than through the prism of our own ideology. What is more, every intentional political action where we advance the good, the true and the beautiful, motivated by the love of God and neighbour, can be an act of seeking to sanctify the world.
