Catholic Bishop advises FG to review strategy on security

*As Osinbajo, Ugwuanyi, Anglican Primate attend Catholic Bishops confab in Enugu

Moses Oyediran, Enugu and Doosuur Iwambe, Abuja

Calistus Onaga, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, has advised the Federal Government to reassess its security approach so that it is perceived as comprehensive rather than sectional.

He made the remarks during the Holy Mass and formal opening of the Catholic Bishops Conference of 2021 in Enugu.

In the face of Nigeria’s escalating insecurity, Bishop Onaga urged for a review of the country’s security plan that is not perceived as imbalanced.

He called on the government to be steadfast in ensuring that the tactics used to crack down on secessionist agitators in the South are also used to combat banditry and insurgency in the Northern half of the country.

Bishop Onaga urged members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) to reconsider its Sit-at-Home Order, among other issues addressed, as a precautionary move to protect the socio-economic well-being of residents in the South East region.

Meanwhile, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State were among the dignitaries who graced the opening Mass of the Second Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), held at Holy Ghost Cathedral, Ogui, Enugu, on Sunday.

Osinbajo, who was represented at the event by Gov Ugwuanyi, extended his warm felicitations to the Catholic Bishops.

Conveying Osinbajo’s message, Gov Ugwuanyi, who also extended the reverential greetings of the government and good people of Enugu State to the Papal Nuncio, Antonio Guido Filipazzi, all the Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops, said: “Our Vice President, an esteemed and urbane Statesman, is widely acknowledged for his manifest practice of the Christian Faith and has requested that I convey his best wishes for a very memorable Second Plenary Meeting of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria”.

The governor, who called for a minute silence in honour of the wife of late Dr. Michael I. Okpara, the former Premier of Eastern Region, Mrs. Adamma Okpara, who died in the early hours of Sunday, pointed out that his administration, at inception, committed Enugu State to the Hands of God, adding that “we have continued to seek His Hands in all we do”.

While appreciating the Bishops for choosing Enugu State for the spiritually auspicious event, Gov Ugwuanyi thanked “the Catholic Church and the entire members of the Body of Christ in the state and beyond for their unceasing prayers, wise counsel, support and solidarity all these years”.

He assured them that his administration will continue to serve the people of the state with the fear of God, expressing optimism that the religious event will herald blessings for the government and people of Enugu State.

Also in his goodwill message, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, who was represented by Most Rev. Buba Ali Lamido, asked “the Catholic Church to count on us as we fight the good fight” for the salvation of mankind”, stressing that God will hear the message of the Church as a result of the Plenary Meeting.

At the beginning of the Mass, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubueze in a speech commended Nigerians for their patience despite the failure of the leaders in keeping to their campaign promises.

“We want to commend Nigerians for their patience in the face of what appears to be the failure of the government to meet with minimum governance requirements. Nigerians are bearing a high level of inflation, depreciation of the naira, increased poverty, herders-farmers crisis, insecurity and lack of basic amenities due to the inability of the federal government to respond to the cries of many Nigerians, avoidance of selective sectional appointments to federal positions.

“The call for constitutional reforms that respects the rights of every Nigerian and provide opportunity for equal access to the resources of Nigeria is something that should be treated fairly.

“The right to self-determination should follow a civilized pattern and should not be demonized. The church believes that government should avoid criminalizing those that did not agree with them.

“The federal government has changed the service chiefs after many Nigerians have cried out loudly for change, the change has not yet produced the desired effect. The level of insecurity in every part of the country is of great concern to us Bishops. Many of us Bishops have had to bury our faithful who died because of insecurity due to the activities of kidnapers, cultists, road accidents caused by bad roads. So many Nigerians are dying in unpreventable deaths, the federal government, state and local government must rise to their responsibility.

On electoral reforms, the Bishops said votes of the electorate must begin to country.

“Electoral reform, we strongly reject any form of electoral system that makes it possible for vote of Nigerians not to be respected. The world is moving towards a more digital system, administration. The electoral reform in Nigeria must align itself with this change. Electoral transmission of results should be worked on, rigging of elections at the various point of collection should be a thing of the past. The electoral reform should allow a more transparent declaration of results expeditiously to help adjudication of electoral matters.

In his remarks, the representative of the Pope in Nigeria, Most Rev. Filipazzi, applauded Gov Ugwuanyi for always cooperating with the Church in its work of evangelism.

In his vote of thanks, on behalf of the Bishops, the Bishop of Umuahia Diocese and Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Diocese, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, expressed gratitude to Gov Ugwuanyi for representing the Vice President and conveying his goodwill message to them.

The Bishop equally commended Gov Ugwuanyi for his presence at the occasion, goodwill message and hospitality, saying: “We have been privileged to have enjoyed great hospitality since we arrived the Coal City. His (Ugwuanyi) developmental strides in Enugu State since he assumed office as the Governor of Enugu State are very impressive; please keep it up”.

In his address, the Chairman of the Opening Session of the Conference, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, narrated the various challenges being faced by the country and offered advice on what the Church can do to effectively engage in rebuilding Nigeria.

Dignitaries at the event include Francis Cardinal Arinze; the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke; the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Senator Sir Victor Umeh and his wife, Prisca, among others.

The Pope is represented by Anthony Guido Filipazzi at the one-week national Catholic Bishops Conference, which includes Catholic Bishops from all 36 states and the FCT.