AFRICA / NIGERIA - "The violence instigated by those who want to perpetuate corruption”, reports the Bishop of Oyo

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - "The mindless violence, killing and destruction in some states of Northern Nigeria, is a tragedy almost definitely instigated and fuelled by people and forces who are bent on keeping Nigeria in the dark ages of corruption and fraud and are powerful enough to do so”, said the Most Reverend Emmanuel Ade Badejo, Bishop of Oyo, in a commentary published by the Catholic News Service of Nigeria. Since the Presidential elections, violent incidents and bomb attacks have occurred and have caused deaths and injuries in some northern States of Nigeria. Even the election of the governors of 36 States of the Nigerian Federation (which in some States was held April 26, others will be held on the 28th) was marked by violence.
Rev. Badejo rejects the simplistic interpretation of a clash between Christians and Muslims to explain the crisis the country is facing, but calls into question local politicians. "We must no longer deceive ourselves that this is merely the work of miscreants, uneducated people and misguided elements, as they say. As the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria and other Nigerians have repeatedly said just before the elections, if the powerful men and the forces behind these criminal and destructive acts are not prosecuted for such acts, we give them free field to operate, kill, maim and destroy in Nigeria”.
It is not possible to hold free fair and credible elections where bullets fly overhead and machetes and torches are carried around for the main purpose of causing death and destruction”, continued the Bishop of Oyo. "We must act firmly and fast . Politicians are not from another planet. They are among us and can be forensically monitored and investigated if necessary. At times like this, what a leader needs most is courage. And our country needs many of such leaders. Only such leaders keep their honor, and honor is the most enduring legacy”. "All those who act with violence should remember that, throughout history, those who came before them suffered the same miserable fate”, concluded Bishop Badejo. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 27/04/2011)