From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, Ignatius Kaigama, has challenged political leaders to abide by the spirit and content of the re-introduced National Anthem by championing the cause of service delivery to Nigerians.
Archbishop Kaigama, during yesterday’s homily delivered at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Piwoyi, Abuja, said he was surprised at the speed with which the bill was passed and assented to by the President.
He said: “We often expect a sincere change each time Nigerian officials make the national pledge, take the oath of office, or sing the National Anthem. It is very amazing how officials soon forget or ignore such phrases as ‘I pledge to Nigeria my country. To be faithful, loyal, and honest,’ and turn to fatally wound the nation and its people by acts of blatant corruption and gross dishonesty.
“While returning to the old National Anthem is not a problem for me because it contains some gracious, patriotic, and prayerful words, the fact is that many of us, unfortunately, rubbish these phrases: ‘In brotherhood we stand,’ ‘let truth and justice reign,’ ‘build a nation where no man is oppressed,’ in the unholy and nauseating acts of corruption witnessed in private and public lives.”
He made reference to the people of Israel in the desert, who grumbled against Moses and God, and how their suffering lasted for 40 years. “The journey of Nigeria through the desert of poverty and suffering seems to be going on for more than 60 years, since independence in 1960.
“By reverting to our former National Anthem, we hope that our political leaders will allow our socio-economic fortunes to change for the better too; we should progress from religious and tribal parochialism to genuine patriotism. Merit should prevail when interviews are conducted for employment, promotion, admission, political appointments, etc, instead of relying heavily on the recommendations of godfathers or godmothers.
“When a criminal is arrested for corruption, kidnapping, violence, or terrorism, such a person should not be assisted to evade justice because he/she is the son or daughter of a certain tribe or belongs to a certain religion.
“We hope that the hasty passage of the National Anthem Bill with accelerated presidential endorsement will usher in a revolutionary transformation in governance, and an unprecedented emancipation from hunger, poverty, insecurity, disease, violence, etc,” he prayed.