YOU talked about unity in your closing remarks at the cathedraticum mass of the North deanery of the Ibadan Catholic archdiocese last Wednesday. There have been varied reactions to Nigeria’s unity, especially with the spate of insecurity and the forthcoming elections. What is your message to the country as regards unity at this time?
Each time we read about killings anywhere in Nigeria, they are sad events and it is sadder that it seems there is no end in sight. It is after the killings take place we find security operatives being deployed in those areas. Imagine the Inspector General of Police asking citizens with licences to submit their weapons or renew such licences. These citizens are not the ones causing the violent attacks. Those causing it do not have licences to carry guns; hence, they are not under compulsion to submit their weapons. That is a wrong way to address it.
Sometimes, it would seem that there is no justice in this country, and if there is, it is one-sided. It is a known fact that President Muhammadu Buhari is a good man, but he is not careful enough, because if it is true that he is a key Fulani figure in the country, he can address his people and the situation will improve in favour of peaceful coexistence. Let him talk to them in a language they understand. You would wonder how the herdsmen get such weapons, and it would seem that they have rich sponsors. Sometimes, the way attacks happen, one would think they are organised. See the case where people were driven out of their houses and the herdsmen and their cattle took over. What kind of life is that?
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I’m afraid that there have been so much complaints, such that many citizens live like strangers in their country. People are no longer free to move about as they want. Here in Ibadan, one day, I was going to Oke-Padre and before the flyover at Mokola, I saw a long queue. Later, when I saw people moving, I discovered that cows had blocked the road. This happened in the heart of Mokola. Another time, while at a conference in Abuja – this happened recently – we were going for our mass in a parish, cows blocked the road. This happened on a major road in Abuja. So, what are we saying? This is not the first time we have cows or herdsmen in our midst. So, why are things this bad now? Why should herdsmen become king of kings in the country anyway, thinking that they own everywhere? People are talking of ranching, but they’re talking of colonies. They had better take what the people can give. Why should cows be allowed to graze anywhere? It’s not done. In climes such as Germany and Holland, where they have a lot of cows, we see how they work with ranching. They also plant crops specially to feed their cows. We can do the same in Nigeria. It is sad that here, people misbehave and anything happens, and no one answers for lawlessness, and this is destroying the government so much. Buhari is a man who says he personifies discipline and is out to fight corruption. He should know, however, that killing people is worse that collecting money. Killer herdsmen are worse than terrorists. They do it openly. Besides, they’re referring to the attacks by a wrong label. People sleep in their homes, and their communities are invaded and they refer to it as clashes. Those are attacks, not clashes. So, unless we call the devil its real name, we shall never conquer it. Evil is evil; let’s call it so. And unless that evil is suppressed, and everyone is given due recognition as citizens, this country will never be one again. I pray something worse will not happen in Nigeria.
Recently, there were alleged reports of security operatives harassing a Christian leader in the North. There are also moves to sanction hate speech offenders to death by hanging. What is your take on this?
I’ve never had an experience like that. However, there are many ways of looking at hate speeches. Aside hate speeches, there are also provocative speeches, which are just as bad. When they arrest those who make hate speeches, they should also arrest those who make speeches that provoke people to anger. When you provoke people, then the reaction will be for them to voice out something hateful. So, both sides should be curbed.
What is the significance of the cathedraticum to the Catholic Church?
This is our way of coming together to say thank you to God and to support the archbishop’s work in the diocese as it relates to charity. The food items, money and other materials donated will not go into my pocket. This is the first of the five deaneries in the archdiocese of Ibadan to hold the event. At the end of the cathedraticum in the five deaneries, we shall gather all the foodstuffs and other materials, and identify the poor communities we can take them to, such as homes for the needy, homes for abandoned children, among others. We will also identify formation houses that need support and identify with them. We will also channel the funds into welfare of those in need. That is what the celebration is meant to be: to support the archbishop in his works of charity.
and then