Nigeria: Catholic Conference Okays Emergency Rule

By Yemi Akinsuyi
Abuja — The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has endorsed recent measures taken by the federal government to check insurgency and rising wave of crime in parts of the country.

President of CBCN, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama said this in Abuja yesterday at the end of a week-long retreat for Bishops and other clergymen of the Catholic faith in Nigeria.

Kaigama, who is also the Archbishop of Jos, said the conference had noted with concern the chain of events in parts of the country that was threatening the continuous existence of Nigeria as a nation.

He said, having examined the situation, the conference of Catholic Bishops believed that the steps taken by the federal government were apt and in the interest of all Nigerians.

"We welcome the President's efforts in seeking to bring our challenges under control.

"We believe that given the serious nature of the crises, the President must use all available resources and opportunities required to resolve the tension in various parts of the country.

"We pray and hope that the declaration of the state of emergency in some states of the country will achieve the desired objectives," he said.

Kaigama said that the President should, in addition to measures adopted, rally political leaders across party affiliations to support a campaign for peace and harmony in the country.

The Catholic Bishops, Kaigama said, also condemned utterances credited to some individuals that could jeopardise the relative peace enjoyed in the country.

He said that much of the unrest in parts of the country could be attributed to the clash of interest among politicians and noted that only the political class could salvage the situation.

"It would seem clear to us all that these issues are the direct result of the forthcoming elections of 2015.

"We hold the political class squarely responsible for ensuring the stability of our dear nation, that is why we urge the President to mobilise the leadership of the political class especially to resolve the lingering crises in the country," he said.