…appeals to NLC to pity the innocent masses
From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria ( CBCN), and Archbishop of Owerri Metropolitan, His Grace Most Rev Luicius Ugorji has said that events leading to the off – cycle election in Imo , Bayelsa and Kogi stares, the brutalization of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress , Comrade Joe Ajaero and the unmitigated suffering hoisted on the innocent people of Imo is an indication that the people have learnt nothing.
Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, made the lamentation yesterday, in a homily he delivered during his pastoral visit to Christ the King Parish, Umuoba, Uratta, Owerri North local council area of Imo State.
His words: “I have never ceased to ask whoever cares, if we have learnt anything at all since 1999, when we started the current political engineering.
“Just yesterday (Saturday), I asked a few people, if they were going to cast their votes during the off cycle gubernatorial election and a number of them said they would not. They hinged their reason on the outcome of the February 13 polls and the judicial decisions.
“The police, army, State Security Services, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other security outfits, came into the state in their numbers. Helicopters kept keeping surveillance from the air.
“They were supposed to ensure that there was no violence in the state. This gave us a measure of hope, which sadly failed again. If the commentaries that followed the poll, is anything to be reckoned with, then, we have not learnt anything in Nigeria.
“Voting during all elections, remains a civic responsibility. People should be allowed to vote freely, without intimidation, coercion, killing or maiming.
“We have had this democratic engineering for 25 years, but what have we achieved? We should be free to determine who should rule or represent us at whatever level.
“While public office holders should know that power is transitory, our youths should resist the temptation of offering themselves as canon fodder or thugs.”
Addressing the recent brutalization of the NLC President, Ugorji said it was condemnable.
He said: “It is condemnable to mercilessly beat up, manhandle or brutalize the NLC President, as has been variously reported in the media.
“A more civilized way of handling whatever alleged sin, the NLC President may have committed, would have been to allow the laws of the land, to take its full course. Resort to self help was not the best option.
“It is equally condemnable for labour to inflict hardship on hapless, innocent masses, which they are supposed to protect. There has not been public power supply to the ordinary citizens, since the NLC President was assaulted and brutalized.
“However, to add hardship on the masses that are already traumatized by the prevailing suffering in the land, is callous, unconscionable and uncharitable.
“Public power supply and flights to and from Imo State, has been cut off. The NLC should have mercy on the people. Some businesses have collapsed since the impasse commenced. The common man did not do anything to warrant the terror inflicted on them by Labour.
“NLC should allow the masses to breathe and survive the hard times. The people are not supposed to suffer for the sins of others.
“God immensely blessed Ndigbo with abundant human and material resources. Why we inflict undue hardship on ourselves, beats the imagination of patriotic individuals.
“Government and the leadership of NLC, should quickly sort out their differences in the interest of the innocent masses. The warring parties must sheath their swords and let tthe poor masses breathe and live.”