ABUJA, MAY 11, 2021 (CISA) – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has expressed concern over the ‘un-governability’ situation in Nigeria, characterized by multiple security challenges.
“We are rapidly reaching un-governability. Police stations are being burnt, our gallant military men and women are being killed. Barracks, internally displaced camps are also being attacked, farmlands are invaded, youth unemployment is at its highest, private sectors are not giving enabling environment to thrive, and appointments to offices are not reflective of our diversities. The complaints are almost endless this is a sign of a collapsing nation,” agenzia fides reported on May 8.
The prelates have distanced themselves from allegations of planning to remove the President from office forcibly. Some religious leaders and clerics reacted sharply to these accusations of a coup plot.
“To every religious leader, let us not use inflammatory words that distort the real message we are sending to this Government,” advised the Metropolitan prelate of Benin City.
The bishops criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for speaking to the nation through spokespersons further warning the Federal Government against ignoring “…the constructive criticisms and recommendations of Nigerians from every sector.”
“In every democracy, the welfare of citizens is of great concern to the President. From time to time, Presidents address the people and give an account of the state of affairs in the country. Presidents of countries grant interviews to the media who are the watchdogs of democracy. But in Nigeria, we hardly hear directly from our President. Most of the time, we hear from ‘the Presidency.’ Nigerians did not elect presidential media spokespersons. Nigerians want to hear directly from their President and hear words that are matched with actions,” said Archbishop Akubeze.
According to a statement issued by the state Government, on May 5, a group of university students from Abia State University, were abducted by armed men while traveling in a bus, along the road from Okigwe to Uturu.
In reference to this abduction, CBCN stressed that, “…Nigerians are tired of hearing of bandits taking youths in the university and executing some of them, while others are kept to be used to bargain for ransom.”
“We must be united in the fight for our common destiny as a people,” CBCN said noting that to curb the collapse of the nation, the president needs to convene a national conference geared towards implementing, restructuring and devolution of power.
CBCN added that, given the serious security and economic challenges facing the country, “It is not out of place to call for a security summit in whatever form it may take as long as it leads to the unity, peace, justice, and protection of Nigerians.”
According to police reports since December 2020, in north-west Nigeria at least 700 students have been abducted making it a major security challenge for the government and security forces.
I have been thinking a great deal about my experience at Reconciliation this past Saturday. I felt an intense and unexplainable urge to go and confess my sins when I woke up that morning. I try to go every six weeks or so, but this was no routine visit to the priest for me. I needed to unburden myself of the numerous venial sins I had committed since I last participated in this Sacrament.
Purest Gold: God's Refining Fire in our Lives »
After salvation, many young Christians wonder if there's anything more to their newfound faith than just the security blanket of "being a Christian." Time and time again, God shows himself as a "refiner," and our lives are as gold. God started leading me in this study to understand what He was doing in my life, as well as in the lives of others.
Picking up my pen to write this column, I couldn’t imagine how time flies. Since the last publication of this column I have gone through a lot, especially the loss of my dear mother to whom I dedicate this article. Not only her, but seems I lost a whole generation of my close family.
How to Achieve Business Excellence »
“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before Kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” Proverbs 22:29
Spiritual Development for our Youth »
Most of us youth in today's fast moving world are easily thrown off by difficulties and worries.
The theme of conversion is a thread that runs all through Lent, but conversion takes on different aspects throughout the phases of Lent. The first two and a half weeks focused on the interior turning of hearts; the liturgy urges the faithful to reflect and examine consciences thoroughly.
Saint Josephine Bakhita »
Feast Day: February 8
Patron Saint Of: Sudan
Saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita was born around 1869 in the village of Olgossa in the Darfur region of Sudan. She was a member of the Daju people and her uncle was a tribal chief. Due to her family lineage, she grew up happy and relatively prosperous, saying that as a child, she did not know suffering.
Catholics Must Fast More Intensely This Lent»
The Norbertine Canons of St. Michael's Abbey have created this digital Lenten retreat so that you can journey through this holy season alongside them. If you want to have one of your best Lenten seasons yet, join us in our Lenten Program "The Great Fast" - https://theabbotscircle.com/the-great-fast-join
When Your Faith Is Put to the Test - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon»
Friends, we come now to the Second Sunday of Lent, and we’re on both dangerous and very holy ground with the first reading from the twenty-second chapter of Genesis. The ancient Israelites referred to it as the “Akedah,” which means the “binding”: Abraham binds and is ready to sacrifice Isaac at God’s command.
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