Listen to Nigerians on insecurity, Catholic Bishops tell Buhari

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, yesterday, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to listen to the cries of Nigerians over the security situation of the country..

CBCN president, Arch-Bishop Augustine Akubeze, who stated this while speaking at the funeral of Emeritus Bishop of Orlu Diocese, the most Revd. Gregory Ochiaga, said Buhari must not ignore the constructive criticism of religious leaders.

“We join our yokes to many courageous religious leaders, Catholics and non- Catholics who have spoken out against government’s performance in the area of insecurity in Nigeria.

“To the Federal Government of Nigeria, let it be known to you that openness to objective criticism is a sign of maturity. Many critics of government mean well for the government.

“There is no religious leader who will want the government to fail, neither is there any genuine religious leader who feel the pain of their people and keep quiet when the lives and property of the people are not secured.

“Government should listen to the cries of Nigerians and take them seriously when we cry for a secured life, when we ask for a good opportunity for every Nigerian, and when we ask for the inclusion of every part of the country in the governance of Nigeria and not just a minimalistic approach to fulfilling constitutional quotas of representation.

“As we speak and constructively criticize the federal Government, we assure the government of our prayers and collaboration in seeking to build a nation where justice and peace reign, where prosperity for everyone is achieved”, he said.

According to him, those were the ideas Bishop Ochiaga worked and fought for. He added, “Interestingly, Bishop Ochiaga was ordained a priest in the year of Nigeria’s Independence. I am sure that for the 60 years of his priesthood, he kept on praying for a better Nigeria.

He regretted the hug loss of lives by Nigerians under the menace of insecurity across the country. “We know that the level of insecurity in the country has reached an all time high. The Nigerian people are no longer safe.

“On a day-to-day basis, Nigerians are killed or maimed by bandits, Cattle rustlers, Boko Haram, Herdsmen, kidnappers and various criminal elements that our security agents have not been able to deal with”. Earlier, members of the catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria had offered fervent prayers for the repose of the soul of Bishop Ochiaga.

Meanwhile, the Chief Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has charged new recruits to be ready to defend the country against external aggression and other security threats.

Buratai, who gave the charge during the final screening for 80 regular recruits held at the notorious Falgore forest in Tudun Wada Local Government Area of Kano State, also charged the recruits to be prepared to move to Sambisa Forest, a stronghold of the Boko Haram terrorist sect in Borno State.

According to him, those not disciplined and loyal to the cause are free to find their way out of the system. He said, “You must make up your mind that you are ready to serve your country as a soldier and you should be ready. All of you will go to Sambisa at the end of your depot training. If you are not ready to move to Sambisa and other parts of the country, and of course, our border areas to defend your country from any act of aggression, then, you have not started.

“It is not yet late, if you have any doubt, then you can stand up and go. There is no room for laziness and indiscipline in the army and no room for malingering”.

Buratai said recruitment and selection would, henceforth, be conducted in Falgore Forest, adding that all recruits would be subjected to a similar process.

“This is where we will select those who will become cadets and be trained as officers as well because at the end of all the training, the officers and soldiers will operate together under the same condition”, the army chief said.