FROM VICTOR NWEGEDE, ABAKALIKI
The Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese, Rev. Fr. Peter Nworie Chukwu has accused President Muhammad Buhari of not balancing appointments by reflecting the country's federal character while nominating those working with him especially the security chiefs in his administration since 2015 till date.
LR: Bishop Peter Nworie Chukwu and President Muhammad Buhari.
Bishop Chukwu who expressed dismay over the lopsided appointments by President Buhari to favour his core Fulani Muslim people, also said that Nigerians had lost faith in his administration because of the incessant insecurity challenges facing the country.
He stated this on Monday in an interview with newsmen immediately after the inauguration of the executives of the Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN), Ebonyi State Chapter at Bishop Thomas McGettrick's Pastoral Centre, Abakaliki.
The Cleric decried the persistent kidnap, killings of Nigerian citizens, including Priests and destruction of churches by hoodlums in the country.
He observed that the unbroken existence of Nigeria as a sovereign nation had become a concern, considering the contemporary occurrences in the country.
Bishop Chukwu prayed for peaceful, free, fair and credible 2023 elections to enable Nigerians to elect credible leaders that would crack down on their difficulties.
His words: “When Buhari was campaigning for the presidency, he was coming with his credentials as a former military leader who was an anti-corruption crusader, who did not tolerate any corruption or nonsense. And he promised to nip in the bud all cases of Boko Haram attacks.
“Unfortunately, when he took power, he fell victim to those people who wants to Islamize Nigeria by force and they are using him to accomplish that project. That is why the government is helpless to combat the problem.
“If you look closely, you will see that all the leaders of our security apparatus are from the core Fulani, it has never been like that in the history of Nigeria. In the previous administrations, there was a balance in appointments, a reflection of federal character in the appointment of the leaders of the security outfits.
“But now, it is so lopsided that they will always execute their agenda without much opposition. And come to think of it again, a lot of people have lost their voice because what do you say and they will come after you.
“Despite this, rational people are very uncomfortable with what is going on. So, it is very unfortunate. Appeals have not helped this government. We have lost faith in the current government to restore security.
“What we are praying for is peaceful free and fair elections that will usher in God-chosen leaders who will solve the problems of this country and if that problem is not solved, the continued existence of Nigeria as a corporate entity is under a very serious question mark.
“We are approaching the general elections. Hold candidates to task, charge them to present their manifestoes to our people, what they wish to accomplish if they are elected into office and take them to task if they are bringing some pretentious claims in their records so that our people will be able to examine these potential leaders as they make up their minds.
“I am very worried that Priests have become targets of kidnappers and killers. Sometimes, they kidnap and end up killing our priests. We have lost so many Priests in the North, in the Middle Belt and even in the southeast and it is very worrisome but I am not surprised because Priests and Prophets have always been victims of persecution in church history.
“It shows what the Priests represent, what we stand for and what we preach is sprinkling and instead of repenting, they decided to fight back and they fought back by killing, kidnapping, torturing and by destroying our churches but I am consoled by the statement of Christ in Mathew chapter 16 that the gate of the underworld shall never prevail against the church. The church comes out stronger even when you push it to the wall.”
