AFRICA/NIGERIA - The President of the Episcopal Conference warns: "The 2015 elections will create a political situation that will be explosive"

Tuesday, 18 November 2014

Jos (Agenzia Fides) - "There are already signals and indications that the impending 2015 elections will create a political situation that will be explosive" warned His Exc. Mgr. Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, Archbishop of Jos and President of the Episcopal Conference of Nigeria, in his reflection during the Vigil of national prayer, held at the national Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, from the evening of November 13 at the dawn of the 14 (see Fides 06/11/2014).
"There are indications that the "do or die" politics of mud-slinging and character assassination still prevail, said Mgr. Kaigama. "The political aggressive quest for power already being exhibited makes us wonder if Nigerian politics is truly about improving the lot of the common people".
The Vigil is part of the national campaign of prayer organized in June by the Nigerian Bishops to restore peace in the Country, which is suffering due to the violence of Boko Haram (see Fides 06/06/2014), and Mgr. Kaigama continues: "There are still ongoing terrorist activities that are not only causing the loss of lives and so much havoc but (Boko Haram) are enjoying territorial expansion (...). These cruel acts have not yet found counter active security solutions and are seemingly yet to truly touch or move the hearts of our elders (in and out of government), to explore avenues to bring sanity and order, rather than using the unfortunate situation as a political weapon".
The President of the Episcopal Conference also reminded the Bishops that the violence of Boko Haram is against them. His Exc. Mgr. Oliver Doeme, Bishop of Maiduguri, "can testify that many of their parishes have been closed and the people scattered while many have been killed". Even Bishop Stephen Mamza of Yola Diocese can also testify that "thousands of people from the Borno and Adamawa axis have been displaced and made refugees in their ancestral homes". "We thank the two Bishops for their courageous presence with the thousands of displaced people and for offering them relief through the Church's limited resources, without any discrimination based on religion" concluded Mgr. Kaigama. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 18/11/2014)


Share: