The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah has called for a sincere, open and proactive approach to bring an end to banditry and other security challenges bedevilling the country.
In his Christmas message on Saturday, Kukah accused the Federal Government of not taking its responsibility serious in protecting the lives and properties of the citizens.
According to him, “We have before us a government totally oblivious to the cherished values of the sacredness of life.”
He noted that after over seven years, over 100 Chibok girls are still marooned in the ocean of uncertainty, lamenting that over three years after, Leah Sharibu is still unaccounted for, while students of the Federal Government College, Yauri, and children from Islamiyya School, Katsina, are still in captivity.
He explained that it does not include hundreds of other children whose captures were less dramatic, adding that Nigerians have lost count of hundreds of individuals and families who have been kidnapped and live below the radar of publicity.
He expressed dismay that tales and promises about planned rescues have since deteriorated into mere whispers, saying that nothing expresses the powerlessness of the families like the silence of government.
Kukah said that the silence of the federal government only feeds the ugly beast of complicity in the deeds of these evil people who have suspended the future of entire generations of the children.
He asked, “does the President of Nigeria not owe Nigerians an explanation and answers as to when the abductions, kidnappings, brutality, senseless, and endless massacres of the citizens will end?”
Bishop Kukah thanked the efforts of the nation’s security men and women in restoring order in the country.
The Bishop blamed the government for not doing enough to address the negative effects of climate change that is affecting every part of the country.
He noted that air and water pollution, waste management, deforestation, desertification, erosion, and flooding, continue to threaten agriculture, aquaculture and the welfare of citizens despite all the grand plans.
He explained that over time, Nigerians have seen long, good promises caught in the web of bureaucratic fraud.
Bishop Kukah commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the National Assembly for falling into line with the wishes of the people and injecting technological innovation into the electoral process on the amended electoral act.
He enjoined the National Assembly to quickly act on the observations made by the President on the issues of direct or indirect primaries and return the bill to the President for assent.