Catholic Bishops Warn Against Political Victimisation, Seek Release Of Nnamdi Kanu, Igboho, Others

To save the country from collapse and railroad the country back to the path of progress, political leaders must listen to the cry of Nigerians.

This advice was given on Friday by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, as Nigeria joins the rest of the World to mark 2021 Christmas, which heralds the birth of Jesus Christ.

In a message sent to journalists through the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Fr. Michael Umoh, in Abuja, the CBCN President, Most Revd Augustine Akubeze, said politicians must listen to their constituents to gauge their mood and humble themselves to listen to their yearnings.

The CBCN also advised against political victimisation, which is capable of stoking not only political unrest but ethnic violence in a society like Nigeria.

Cases of political victimisation has been rife with the US particularly expressing worries over the matter and tasking the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to ensure that it retraces its step from the poor human rights records already witnessed since 2015.

The Bishops explained that criticism by opposition groups and individuals is a measure of virility advising leaders to eschew the temptation of arresting and charging those who criticise the government.

“I invite you to join in praying for a Nigerian government that will listen to everyone,” it said in its advice to the citizens.

To the political office holders, the group said, “Our political office holders at all levels should act according to the mind of their constituents. To listen, you must concede that the other person has dignity and goodwill.

“No one should lead with a mindset that they have the monopoly for solving every problem.
To resolve the insecurity issues in Nigeria, we must listen to each other.

“If we want to resolve agitation or request for devolution of power or sovereignty of a part of the country, we must listen to each other.

“We call on the federal government to release all those being held in captivity and those charged because they spoke on how to move the nation forward. One may not agree with everyone. Still, one has to fight for the right of everyone to speak, and the other should listen.”

While noting that the Christmas season reminds the people of God’s presence in human affairs, the Catholic prelates advised, “We should, therefore, not allow any situation to lead us to despair because God is always with us.

“We are grateful to God for all his divine interventions in our lives. We know that if not for God, things would have been worse.”