Don’t Criminalise Agitation For Self Determination, Catholic Bishops Tell FG

The Catholic Bishops in Nigeria, operating under the auspices of
the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has urged the
federal government to avoid the temptation of trying to demonise or
criminalise opposition elements or those calling for independence
of their region.

The bishops restated their opposition to any form of electoral
system that would made it possible for the votes of Nigerians not
to be respected.

The clerics also lamented that the level of insecurity in every
part of the country is of great concern to them.

These views were contained in the address by the President of
the CBCN, Archbishop Augustine Akubeze, at the second plenary held
in Enugu on Sunday.

Speaking on the calls for independence being demanded by some
parts of the country, the bishops advised everyone to be calm and
to exhaust extensive consultation.

Akabueze said: “The federal government as well as those leading
the call for independence of some regions should be listened to.
Everyone must avoid the temptation to demonise those who disagree
with them.

“The first step that should be taken is an open and
unconditional dialogue with every group. Dialogue is always better
than the taking up of arms. No one should call for the killing of
military personnel, and no military personnel should intimidate any
Nigeria because of their views. Freedom of speech and respect for
diversities of opinions must be respected.”

He also said that the right to self-determination should follow
a civilised pattern and should not be demonised or criminalised,
adding that the bishops have called “everyone to be calm and
exhaust extensive consultation.”

The bishops also commented on the security challenges facing the
country and pointed out that the appointments of new service chiefs
have not produced the desired effect.

“Many of us, bishops have had to bury our faithful who died
because of attacks of insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, cultists,
and those who have died because of road accidents caused by bad
roads. Too many Nigerians are dying of preventable deaths, the
federal government, state government, and local government must
rise to their responsibility,” the bishops said.

The catholic bishops also expressed their opposition to any form
of electoral system that would not make it possible for the votes
of Nigerians not to be respected.

The bishops said the world is moving towards a more digital
system of administration, adding that electoral reform in Nigeria
must align itself with this change.

They sided with electronic transmission of electoral results so
that rigging of elections at the various points of collection
should become a thing of the past.

However, the bishop’s conference re-stated that inasmuch as
priests were free to condemn any government policy that is not
people friendly, no cleric should use his position or
ecclesiastical property for promoting what appears to be partisan
politics.

“Therefore, it is imperative that clerics must avoid every form
of political endorsement using the ecclesiastical positions given
to them. At the same time, it is not the practice of the church to
identify unelected leaders through some form of prophetic visions
or dreams or revelation.

“Having stated the above, we must make it clear once again, that
no cleric is expected to use his position or ecclesiastical
property for promoting what appears to be partisan politics.

“The church strongly believes that all political parties do have
something or persons that can lead. Therefore, it is imperative
that clerics must avoid every form of political endorsement using
the ecclesiastical positions given to them. At the same time, it is
not the practice of the church to identify unelected leaders
through some form of prophetic visions or dreams or revelation.

“The church does not pronounce a particular candidate as God’s
anointed political leader. The role of clerics is to educate the
people to choose leaders who will work for the good of humanity. We
call on diocesan bishops to ensure that appropriate actions are
taken immediately when any priest or religious violates this
traditional catholic belief,” CBCN said.

The bishops observed that Nigerians are “bearing a high level of
inflation, depreciation of the Naira, increased poverty, shortage
of food because of herders/farmers crisis, insecurity to life and
property, insensitivity and lack of federal government response to
the cries of many Nigerians in the area of economic revolution,
structural development, through eradication of corruption,
avoidance of selective sectional appointments to important federal
positions.”

The Catholic Bishops in Nigeria, operating under the auspices of
the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has urged the
federal government to avoid the temptation of trying to demonise or
criminalise opposition elements or those calling for independence
of their region.

The bishops restated their opposition to any form of electoral
system that would made it possible for the votes of Nigerians not
to be respected.

The clerics also lamented that the level of insecurity in every
part of the country is of great concern to them.

These views were contained in the address by the President of
the CBCN, Archbishop Augustine Akubeze, at the second plenary held
in Enugu on Sunday.

Speaking on the calls for independence being demanded by some
parts of the country, the bishops advised everyone to be calm and
to exhaust extensive consultation.

Akabueze said: “The federal government as well as those leading
the call for independence of some regions should be listened to.
Everyone must avoid the temptation to demonise those who disagree
with them.

“The first step that should be taken is an open and
unconditional dialogue with every group. Dialogue is always better
than the taking up of arms. No one should call for the killing of
military personnel, and no military personnel should intimidate any
Nigeria because of their views. Freedom of speech and respect for
diversities of opinions must be respected.”

He also said that the right to self-determination should follow
a civilised pattern and should not be demonised or criminalised,
adding that the bishops have called “everyone to be calm and
exhaust extensive consultation.”

The bishops also commented on the security challenges facing the
country and pointed out that the appointments of new service chiefs
have not produced the desired effect.

“Many of us, bishops have had to bury our faithful who died
because of attacks of insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, cultists,
and those who have died because of road accidents caused by bad
roads. Too many Nigerians are dying of preventable deaths, the
federal government, state government, and local government must
rise to their responsibility,” the bishops said.

The catholic bishops also expressed their opposition to any form
of electoral system that would not make it possible for the votes
of Nigerians not to be respected.

The bishops said the world is moving towards a more digital
system of administration, adding that electoral reform in Nigeria
must align itself with this change.

They sided with electronic transmission of electoral results so
that rigging of elections at the various points of collection
should become a thing of the past.

However, the bishop’s conference re-stated that inasmuch as
priests were free to condemn any government policy that is not
people friendly, no cleric should use his position or
ecclesiastical property for promoting what appears to be partisan
politics.

“Therefore, it is imperative that clerics must avoid every form
of political endorsement using the ecclesiastical positions given
to them. At the same time, it is not the practice of the church to
identify unelected leaders through some form of prophetic visions
or dreams or revelation.

“Having stated the above, we must make it clear once again, that
no cleric is expected to use his position or ecclesiastical
property for promoting what appears to be partisan politics.

“The church strongly believes that all political parties do have
something or persons that can lead. Therefore, it is imperative
that clerics must avoid every form of political endorsement using
the ecclesiastical positions given to them. At the same time, it is
not the practice of the church to identify unelected leaders
through some form of prophetic visions or dreams or revelation.

“The church does not pronounce a particular candidate as God’s
anointed political leader. The role of clerics is to educate the
people to choose leaders who will work for the good of humanity. We
call on diocesan bishops to ensure that appropriate actions are
taken immediately when any priest or religious violates this
traditional catholic belief,” CBCN said.

The bishops observed that Nigerians are “bearing a high level of
inflation, depreciation of the Naira, increased poverty, shortage
of food because of herders/farmers crisis, insecurity to life and
property, insensitivity and lack of federal government response to
the cries of many Nigerians in the area of economic revolution,
structural development, through eradication of corruption,
avoidance of selective sectional appointments to important federal
positions.”