杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

鈥淚鈥檓 sure most Nigerians are very much delighted and grateful to the Holy Father for publicly announcing his concern for the situation of insecurity and violence in our country鈥�, said Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the day after the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 appeal during the Sunday Angelus.

His plea to pray for the many victims of 鈥渋nhumane鈥� violence in the West African nations of Nigeria and Mali, and his appeal to 鈥渃onvert cruel hearts鈥� resounded in a desolate media landscape that, the Cardinal said, seems to have forgotten the suffering of so many people.  

Cardinal Onaiyekan revealed that thanks to his constant interaction with 杏MAP导航 Francis, he knows that his country is always in the Holy Father鈥檚 prayers.

鈥淓very time I meet him and ask him 鈥榩lease keep praying for Nigeria鈥�, he says 鈥業 do that every day!鈥欌��, he said.

A forgotten tragedy

Describing the ongoing violence and suffering of the people as 鈥渇orgotten news鈥�, Cardinal Onaiyekan decried the fact that it no longer makes the front page in the international media.

鈥淚t鈥檚 almost as if they are tired of us鈥�, he said. 鈥淏ut no matter how forgotten it is, the people who are themselves concerned cannot forget, especially the victims鈥�.

No victims forget, he explained, even the victims of past violence, because their loved ones are gone.

Recent escalation of violence

The Cardinal said that in the recent two months or so there have been even more reasons for concern following a sharp escalation of the level of violence.

Before, he said, it was perceived as religious strife, with clashes between Christians and Muslims.

Then, the focus was on socio-economic clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

鈥淏ut what we have seen recently is more political鈥�, he said.

Political matrix

Cardinal Onaiyekan explained that he believes much enmity is fostered by political opponents who 鈥渋nstead of simply going to vote and letting their votes be counted so that the winner may emerge, they deploy all kinds of violent means to outdo one another鈥�.

He spoke of what he called 鈥渓arge-scale accusations that politicians are recruiting thugs and arming them to create mayhem鈥�.

At the same time, he said, there are also 鈥渓arge-scale accusations that the government - that in this case also happens to be party to this context - is misusing state security apparatus to intimidate and oppress opponents鈥�.

The Cardinal expressed his concern that, with this kind of situation, the stage may be set for another serious breakdown of law and order.

鈥淲e are really very, very worried about this鈥�, he said.

Cardinal Onaiyekan pointed out that the Nigerian Bishops鈥� Conference has also, on many occasions, released clear statements condemning the abuse of power and reiterating that human life is precious.

鈥淲e have always insisted on the importance of respecting human life, no matter whose life is involved鈥�, he said.