Catholic Bishops’ Conference endorses measures by FG to curb insurgency, criminality in Nigeria

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has endorsed recent measures adopted by the Federal Government to check insurgency and rising wave of crime in certain parts of the country.
President of CBCN, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, disclosed this in Abuja on Friday at the end of a week-long retreat for bishops and other clergymen of the Catholic faith in Nigeria.

``The conference notes with concern some events in certain parts of the country, which were threatening the continuous existence of Nigeria as a nation.
``Having examined the situation, the Conference of Catholic Bishops believes that the steps taken by the Federal Government so far are 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,’’ Kaigama, who is also the Archbishop of Jos, said.
He said the conference believed the president should, in addition to measures adopted, rally the country’s political leaders across party affiliations to support a campaign for peace and harmony.
``Much of the unrest in parts of the country can be attributed to the clash of interest among politicians and only the political class can salvage the situation.
``There will be no space for politicking if individuals truncate the collective efforts of Nigerians to embrace democracy,’’ the clergyman said.
The Catholic Bishops, Kaigama said, also condemned utterances credited to some individuals, which could jeopardise the relative peace enjoyed in the country.
``It seems 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.
On the amnesty committee set up by government, Kaigama said the conference was in support of the committee, but said that the programme must be aimed at achieving results.
The Archbishop of Jos added that ``the programme should be geared towards genuine repentance and reconciliation, rather than appeasing the minds of a few criminals’’.
The conference urged government to commence a general overhaul of the justice system, while still exploring the most effective means of dialogue with a view to restoring peace to the country.
``We note the various initiatives to resolve the Boko Haram issue, such as the setting up of the amnesty committee.
``We, however, insist that genuine amnesty should mean offering pardon to repentant militants and not appeasing criminals and their sponsors to stay calm,’’ the CBCN president said.
The Catholic bishops, Kaigama said, urged all Nigerians and members of the security community to remain calm while the relevant authorities review the entire situation.
He said government must demonstrate the will to tackle from its roots, the challenges confronting the nation by fighting corruption in high places.
Kaigama said that most of the cracks in the system could be traceable to acts of dishonesty and looting of the public treasury by a few individuals.
On the political crisis in Rivers, Kaigama called on President Goodluck Jonathan to ``allow the will of the people to prevail''.
He said minor misunderstandings should not be underestimated as they could degenerate into national crises as witnessed in parts of the country’s North-East.