Many political and religious leaders have finally acknowledged the reality that Nigeria as a nation is living on borrowed time before it finally crashes and capitulate into a failed country.
Many citizens have given up hope and resigned to the popular opinion and belief that nothing good could ever come from the nation as everything seemed to be taking a downward spiral.
Majority of the country’s political and religious leaders seem to be much more concerned about individual benefits rather than communal development. This had been the bane and foundation of greed and corrupt practices especially with the political sphere and federation’s leadership system.
The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), on Monday 28 December 2020, has lent their voices to these general and consistent clamour against insensitivity of its leadership, security concerns poor standards of living and other numerous social ills that has recently plagued the country, by unanimously agreeing to stand strongly in support of statements made by Bishop Matthew Kukah in his Christmas Day message wherein he claimed that Nigeria was on the verge of becoming a failed state.
In a press release made available to journalists in Abuja, the National Director of CSN’s Social Communication, Fr. Mike Umoh, raised the alarm over the incessant attacks on the Bishop by those alleging he sought to instigate violence and hinder national integration with his message.
Fr Umoh, however, was unapologetic in his comments as he insisted that with the continued security and economic challenges facing the country, the Catholic Church in Nigeria stood by Kukah’s position on the state of the nation.
Speaking further on this recent development, He said, “We are quite aware of the 2020 Christmas Message by our revered Bishop Hassan Kukah and the enormous space it has enjoyed on social media and in the public sphere.
“As expected, the agents of evil have gathered to attack the person of the Bishop and to discredit the simple obvious truth of the message. This is the stock in trade of evil people.
“However, they often succeed when good people Christians, choose to do nothing. We are therefore calling attention to this new development so that we can all rise in unison and stand for truth.
“The situation in Nigeria no longer allows anyone to sit on the fence, indifference is now a greater form of sin. Everyone must choose and stand up for what he/she believes in.
“The truth about our nation is also that there are only two parties now existing: the good and the evil, the oppressed and the oppressor, the suffering people and the benefiting government officers and their families.”
Meanwhile, as he enjoined all Nigerians to stand in support of the truth, he cautioned against falling for the deception and theatrics of those he described as players of the religious and tribal card who would want to take advantage of every situation for their own evil and dubious motives even at the expense of the general good of the nation.
It would be recalled that Bishop Kukah of Sokoto Diocese had in the controversial Christmas message titled: ‘A Nation in Search of Vindication’, said: “This government owes the nation an explanation as to where it is headed as we seem to journey into darkness.”
“The spilling of this blood must be related to a more sinister plot that is beyond our comprehension. Are we going to remain hogtied by these evil men or are they gradually becoming part of a larger plot to seal the fate of our country?” he had asked.
Indeed, it’s high time people begin to pay closer and serious attention as well as begin to ask critical questions especially with regards to the impunity with which these grave crimes are being carried out by certain persons or religious sects whom many believe have political backups that gives them the guts to come out openly, unchallenged and even possess the temerity to make special request and demands from the federation’s authorities.
Gift Joseph Okpakorese
Staff Writer
