A STATEMENT BY THE CATHOLIC BISHOP OF LOKOJA DIOCESE, MOST REV. DR. MARTIN D. A. OLORUNMOLU, ON THE STATE OF UNREST IN EBIRALAND AND THE POLITICAL SITUTATION IN KOGI STATE
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INTRODUCTION
In recent times, the Kogi State Central Senatorial District, especially
Ebiraland, has witnessed a rising wave of violent activities caused by a
combination of political, traditional, cultural and social factors. With the
nullification of the April 14th, 2007 gubernatorial election in the state and
the subsequent bye-election scheduled for March 29th, 2008, many people are
entertaining serious fear and anxiety that the bye-election may be marred by
violence, thuggery and intimidation.
At a time like this the Church must not remain silent and indifferent to the
social and political realities affecting her members and many others in the
society in one way or the other. Hence the need for this “Statement.”
THE CRISIS IN EBIRALAND
We have noticed with utter dismay the recurrent and on-going crisis in Ebiraland.
This, no doubt calls for real concern among well-meaning and peace-loving people
within and outside the area. A situation where peace has continued to elude the
people in this area is certainly unacceptable. Outbreak of violence has been
witnessed among adversaries pitched along clannish lines, some among political
gladiators, and others between people of traditional divides.
The recent carnage in Ogaminana, Adavi Local Government Area, obviously deserves
specific attention. It was alleged that youths in the area demanded for
“royalties” from truck drivers carrying concentrates from the Itakpe Iron Ore
Minning Company. Following the disagreement that ensued, a policeman was
reportedly killed and a truck was burnt. It was also alleged that a detachment
of policemen came and stormed the area, demanding for the body and gun of the
dead policeman. Unfortunately, the police left behind the loss of many innocent
lives, injured and displaced persons, burnt houses, damaged vehicles, etc.
We condemn in its entirety the wanton destruction of human lives and valued
property. We denounce and totally abhor the violation of the sacredness of human
life. It is indeed very regrettable that so little premium was placed on human
life. It is very sad that so much lawlessness had pervaded the psyche of those
involved. Therefore we strongly condemn the level of lawlessness exhibited by
the so-called “resource controllers” and declare as barbaric the reprisal attack
by the police whose duty is to protect the lives and property of our people.
We must ask ourselves how we got to this point and how we can get out of it. A
very important remote cause of the crises can be traced to the breakdown of
family values in our society. When children do not grow under the watchful eyes
of paternal and maternal guidance, they become unruly and barbaric. Another
significant factor is the role of elders in our midst. Many elders in our time,
especially in Ebiraland, are not behaving as elders in the true African sense.
When elders cannot caution their youths not to do bad things or when they lack
the moral authority to show the right way of doing things socially, culturally
and politically, the effect on the society can be devastating. One other factor
is the high level of illiteracy and unemployment in our land which make the
youth in particular ready tools in the hands of evil men who pursue their
egocentric interests by enticing the youth with short-lived material benefits.
To get out of this situation, all the strata of our society must embrace
discipline and become law-abiding. We passionately call on all elders,
especially in Ebiraland, to recognise and exercise their roles in the society
properly and sincerely.
In view of the fact that too many innocent people have suffered untold hardships
in the recent outbreak of violence in Ogaminana, we strongly ask that the Kogi
State Government do something urgently to come to their aid in a concrete and
substantial way. Many of them are now homeless and can hardly feed or clothe,
having lost their houses and other property in the carnage. They deserve to be
assisted by the government in order to cope with their plight. No amount of
money can bring back the lives that have been lost in the unfortunate crisis.
But adequate assistance or support from government will go a long way in
assuaging the feelings of the innocent victims. On our part as a Church, we have
asked our people in the various parishes to make contributions in cash and kinds
to cushion the hardship being experienced by the victims. We thank all those who
have responded generously to this call. A lot is still needed to help the
victims concerned. Hence our call here to the Kogi State Government to come to
their aid. Meanwhile, we appeal to our Church members to do more to help the
victims.
Punitive measures must be put in place to check this sort of occurrence and to
serve as deterrence for possible future perpetrators of this kind of evil. The
hands of the law must be made to catch up with the perpetrators of this
dastardly act both on the side of the militant youths and the erratic policemen.
The government should deploy men and women of the State Security Service to this
volatile area to help fish out those responsible for the various cases of unrest
in the land and prosecute them and their sponsors according to the dictates of
our laws.
Education should be seen as a value to be sought. The youths in Ebiraland must
know that there are better values for them to live for. We urge that systematic
plans be put in place to educate and train them so that they will stop serving
as foot soldiers of evil in the land.
In the same vein, we emphatically ask that the police authorities in our country
embark upon the training and retraining of the men and women of the force in
order to make them better prepared to handle cases of social unrest in our land
adequately and effectively in the context of our growing democracy.
While we appreciate the attention the Senate has given to this matter, we urge
the Federal Government to take the issue of peace-building in this area of our
country (i.e., Ebiraland) very seriously.
Finally, we wish to call our people to an examination of conscience. We wish to
remind them that God has created us to live in peace with one another and to
seek to do his will at all times and in all things. Whenever we go against this
plan of God for us, we offend Him. So we ask the perpetrators of violence and
dastardly acts in Ebiraland to seek forgiveness from God and humanity. Above
all, they should change for better by turning away from their past evil deeds.
May the merciful God grant them the grace of sincere repentance so that they may
receive His forgiveness. Amen. May the Lord also forgive everyone of us in
whatever way we have offended Him. Amen.
ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN OUR STATE
The prevailing political atmosphere in our State, Kogi, has given many
well-manning people within and outside the state a lot of concern. This is
because of the cases of political unrest in many parts of the state in recent
times and the serious fear and anxiety being entertained by many people in the
state that the forth-coming gubernatorial by-election in the state many be
marred by violence, thuggery and intimidation. Against this background, we see
the need to address the people of our state on this matter and to make special
appeal to all stakeholders in the forthcoming by-election.
As Christians, more so as Catholics, we trust in God for a peaceful and
successful by-election, but we know that the people of the state must play their
own role as expected of them. So we ask them to maintain necessary vigilance and
participate actively for the success of the by-election. In this connection
fervent prayers to God for the success of the election is necessary. The State
CAN has already declared Good Friday (21/3/2008) and Eater Sunday, 23/3/2008) as
special days of prayers in all churches in the state for this purpose. To this
we, Catholics, are to add 3 days of prayers and fasting, from Holy Thursday
(20/3/2008) to Holy Saturday (22/3/2008) for peace in our Diocese, especially in
Ebiraland, for peace in the entire state, and for the success of the forthcoming
bye-election.
We call on all our politicians to remember that politics is meant for service
and that if they are seeking to serve with a sincere spirit and honesty, they
must not see it as a “do-or-die” affair. They should be selfless in their
approach to seeking political offices and hold the life of every human being
sacred and inviolate. They must allow the overall corporate interest of the
citizens of this state to be uppermost in their minds. Therefore, they and the
political parties to which they belong must shun all forms of political
violence, thuggery, intimidation, electoral malpractices like the snatching of
ballot boxes, multiple voting, rigging of elections, etc.
We ask our people, the electorate of Kogi State, to go out and vote freely and
fearlessly but conscientiously for the leader of their choice. This is the
God-given right and golden opportunity they have to decide on who will rule
them. They must not waste the opportunity. Some candidates are now campaigning
for their (electorate’s) votes. Those candidates who have served before should
be known for who they are and what they can do by the records of their past
performances. The Bible is very clear on this: “By their fruits you will know
them “ (Matt. 7:17-18, 20)
We plead with all our youths not to allow themselves to be used negatively and
for causing troubles in the conduct of the by-election. They should play active
but positive roles in ensuring the success of the election. They should be
courageous enough to ask sponsors of election violence to send their own
children/wards to the warfront of political thuggery. Our youths should stop
destroying their future by accepting to serve as political thugs.
We call on the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to do all in its power to
conduct a free, fair and credible by-election in our State. It should be
unbiased and careful in checking the lapses observed in the previous election so
as to avoid mistakes as much as possible and so that the will of the electorate
may prevail.
We also urge the Law-enforcement Agents and to Media to maintain a neutral but
firm position in carrying out their responsibilities.
Finally, we call on the government of the day in our state to ensure adequate
security in all parts of the state, especially in the more volatile areas, so as
to guarantee a peaceful and successful bye-election.
CONCLUSION
We, as the people of Kogi State, must accept that genuine peace is a basic
requirement for the process of developing our state. Therefore, we must eschew
all forms of violence and work consciously and strenuously for the peace of our
state. So let us pray fervently and unceasingly for peace in the state. May our
Lord, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, usher in a new dawn of peace in our
state, and may our Mother Mary, the Queen of Nigeria and the Queen of Peace
intercede for us. Amen.
Given this day, the 19th of March, 2008 at the Chrism Mass at the Immaculate
Conception Cathedral, Lokoja.
Signed: Most Rev. Dr. Martin D.A. Olorunmolu
Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Lokoja
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