Follow Us on Google
From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The founder and Director of the Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace (CIDJAP), Monsignor Obiora Ike, has said unity and responsible citizenship remain Nigeria’s only realistic path to survival, warning that without both, the country risks deepening its existing challenges.
Ike spoke in Enugu during activities marking his 70th birthday at the Ofu Obi Cultural Centre, where he reflected on faith, national development and the role of citizens in shaping society.
Speaking against the backdrop of rising religious tensions, the cleric acknowledged that Christian persecution exists in Nigeria, but stressed that unity and dialogue must override division if the country is to endure.
“Persecution is real. It has always been part of Christian history. Jesus was crucified. The apostles were killed. In Nigeria, persecution exists, but we must promote dialogue. You cannot build a nation by excluding others. We must learn to live together,” he said.
Ike argued that Nigeria’s survival is not only tied to leadership but also to the attitude and actions of its citizens, insisting that responsible followership is critical to national progress.
“Let us start with followers. We cannot talk about leaders without followers. Sometimes we blame leaders and forget the followers, those who are not interested, not serious, who even corrupt the leaders. I want to be a follower who tells leaders what is right or wrong, not one who is silent like a sheep. Followers must have a voice,” Ike said.
He linked the country’s slow progress to widespread civic apathy, noting that many Nigerians demand change without participating in the democratic process.
