Against the backdrop of growing tensions and mounting agitations brewing in the South-East and threatening the unity of the country, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria have called on the government at all levels to urgently address the developing uprisings in order to avert a national disaster.

This was contained in a communiqué signed by the President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Rev Most Revd. Ignatius Ayau Kiagama and made available to CEOAfrica at the end of the Second Plenary Meeting of the CBCN at St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral Centre, Jalingo, Taraba State on the 7th to 15th September 2017.

The communiqué which was titled ‘Our Hope in Despair: Towards National Restoration’ focused on the need for the government to address pertinent national issues ranging from; the secessionist agitations and the IPOB-Army clash; armed herdsmen and their threat to national security; challenges of quality education among others.

The Catholic Bishops at the conference opined that the current protests and agitations experienced in the country are as a result of government’s failure to effectively address the challenge of injustice, inequality and marginalisation complained of by the agitators. They urged the government to be sensitive of the multi-religious and multi-ethnic configuration of the nation.

The communiqué reads in part: “As Catholic Bishops, we urge the Government at all levels to engage the aggrieved sections of the citizenry in a conversation worthy of a democracy. We are concerned that the deployment of soldiers in the midst of already restive youths could increase the nervousness among the populace with the potential of igniting a fire that could turn into an uncontrollable conflagration.

“On the other hand, we enjoin all aggrieved persons and groups to employ peaceful means within the framework of the existing laws of the land to express their grievances or even exercise legitimate pressure on the Government. Care must be taken by all to avoid actions and utterances capable of causing yet another armed conflict in the nation or any of its parts.

“We demand fair treatment from those State Governments in the North that deny some of our Dioceses their rights to own landed properties for mission work by their refusal to issue them with Certificates of Occupancy. People of different religions need to co-exist, communicate, and be allowed to freely practise their respective religions everywhere in this country.

“Furthermore, the other members of the political class in all the arms of government have, as a matter of urgency, to reduce drastically the immodest cost of running government in this country. If for no other reason, they have to do this as a sign of solidarity with most of their compatriots for whom the basic necessities of life – feeding, clothing, shelter, healthcare, energy, quality education – have almost become unrealizable dreams.”  

The Clerics further raised alarm on the wanton destruction of lives and properties left in the wake of incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers in different parts of the country. They appealed for the quick intervention of the government to stem the killing and maiming perpetuated by the armed herdsmen “Such persons are to be considered a great threat to our national and individual security and their activities treated as acts of terrorism. We demand that adequate and prompt action be taken to stop their onslaught,” the Clerics urged.

While emphasizing on the importance of nation building, the Bishops said “The task of nation-building is a responsibility that rests on all the citizens of the country. We therefore call on all Nigerians to put more effort into working for the common good according to the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity. Individuals as well as smaller groups ought to have enough space for development while all contribute to the commonwealth.”

The Clerics also reaffirmed the commitment of the Church to the integral development of Nigerians, especially through the provision of quality education. While condemning the teaching of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in schools, the Bishops enjoined the Federal and State ministries and departments of education to “ensure adequate and comprehensive curriculum for Christian Religious Studies (CRS), in such a way that individual right to religious freedom and the right of the Church to teach and disseminate the Christian faith is not infringed upon.”

The Catholic Bishops also took the opportunity to implore all catholic faithful to participate in the celebration of the Marian Year in honour of the Centenary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal. “During this celebration we shall re-consecrate Nigeria to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In doing so, we entrust Nigeria to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Nigeria, asking her to intercede on our behalf to stabilize the Nigerian ship of state,” the Clerics prayed.