A
Pastoral Statement Issued by the
Catholic
Bishops of the Onitsha and Owerri Ecclesiastical Provinces at the End of their
Annual Inter-Provincial Meeting Held at the Daughters of Divine Love Retreat
and Conference Centre (DRACC), Enugu, on the 18th of December 2003
Introduction
When
the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, visited our country, Nigeria, for the second time In March 1998 to beatify our
brother and compatriot, the Venerable Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi, he addressed
us, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, on our role as Religious Leaders. He
specifically charged us to present
openly and respectfully the
Church�s convictions, especially regarding such important matters as� justice and impartiality for all citizens,
respect for human rights, religious freedom and the objective moral truth,
which ought to be reflected in civil legislation.
Pope
John Paul II, Abuja, 23rd of March, 1998
Drawing
encouragement from this exhortation, we, the Catholic Bishops of the Onitsha and Owerri Ecclesiastical
Provinces, deliberated on the state of affairs in Nigeria, and issue the following statement:
1. We wholeheartedly share the underlying provision in
the preamble of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria whose
essential thrust is
promoting the good government and
welfare of all persons in our country on the principles of Freedom and Justice,
and � consolidating the Unity of our people.
We are grateful to God that, after years of
military dictatorship, our country Nigeria has once again returned to civilian governance.
2. Regrettably, and despite some improvements and
symbolic achievements here and there, civilian governance is yet to guarantee
the much-expected welfare of all persons in Nigeria based on freedom, equality and justice.� The tensions and anxieties in the country �
especially in the Niger-Delta area, the swelling ranks of the poor, high
unemployment rates, the irregular payment of salaries and entitlements, unequal
access and inequitable distribution of resources, the alarming cases of
insecurity of life and property � all these point to the imbalance and
injustice in the country and consequently threaten the country�s unity.
3. While we remain concerned with the welfare of all
persons and groups in Nigeria, we want to concentrate specifically on the plight
of the Igbo people who constitute a sizeable and dynamic population of Nigeria, and whose contributions to the foundation, unity,
economy, development and progress of our nation, continue to be immense, their
shortcomings, weaknesses and faults notwithstanding.
4. We note with sadness the continued concern of the
Igbo people about their. systematic exclusion, since the end of the Nigerian
civil war, from certain substantive positions in the nation�s administrative
set-up such as the Head of State of Nigeria, heads of the Army, Navy and Air
Force, Chief Judge of the Federation, Inspector General of Police, heads of key
Federal parastatals and Head of Service of the Federation.� Whether planned or accidental, this exclusion
does not reflect the equity that marks a true Federation.
5. In addition, observations have been made about
lopsidedness in the creation of States, Local Government Council Areas and in
the delimitation of their boundaries. This lopsidedness is seen as a calculated
attempt to drastically limit Igbo access to political power that accounts for
the inequity they suffer in matters of representation at the Federal level and
in getting their fair share of national resources.
6. Contrary to the democratic principles of
self-determination, freedom and justice, there has been a lot of external
interference and manipulation in installing leaders at various levels of
governance in Igboland, who are often not the choice of the people but merely
surrogates. Generally, such surrogates serve the selfish interests of their
political �godfathers� who use them to destabilize governance and truncate
development.
7. The political exclusion of the Igbo people from key
administrative positions is complemented by a systematic deprivation of the
Igbo people of their life's savings after the Nigerian civil war and by
continued blocking of access to economic opportunities at the Federal level.
The indigenisation policy of the Federal Government soon after the end of the
civil war and the privatisation of federal companies and parastatals, when the
Igbo people were so impoverished, practically excluded them from participating
in and benefiting from such crucial economic opportunities. From observations
and evidences available, Igbo entrepreneurs appear to be targets and victims of
certain laws promulgated to regulate and restrict the importation of goods into
the country. �Economic enterprise in
Igboland is mainly self-help community efforts. �There are no strong federal establishments in
Igboland that promote economic activities: no refineries, industries, dams or
major power stations such as those is Afam, Kainji, Lagos, and Egbin.�
It is incredible that some major facilities and projects originally
allocated to Igboland have been diverted elsewhere. �Since the end of the civil war, the Igbo
people have continued to suffer incalculable losses across the nation in their
drive to improve themselves and the nation economically. Recall the abandoned
property issue, the unjust slaughtering of innocent defenseless Igbo people
whenever there is a religious or ethnic riot, and the indiscriminate burning
and looting of homes, shops and businesses belonging to Igbo people.
8. The economic neglect and deprivation of the Igbo
people have had very visible effects on their quality of life leading to brain
drain in Igboland and to an increase in social vices. They continue to contend
pith decaying infrastructures, insecurity of life and property, dilapidated schools
and hospitals, inadequate provision of water, power and communication, menace
of erosion, landslides and other ecological disasters. Particularly worrisome
is the deplorable state of federal roads in Igboland. Despite the huge sums of
funds supposedly voted for their rehabilitation, the evidence on ground remains
very disappointing. This poor state of our roads has led to untold carnage,
massive loss of property and heart-breaking dislocations of businesses.
9. In highlighting these injustices and imbalances
that hurt the Igbo people politically, economically, socially and
psychologically, we seek to bring before the nation and its leaders, the need
and the challenge to redress them. For there cannot be genuine and lasting
peace and unity within the country without restoring to the Igbo people, in
appreciably evident ways, their legitimate rights as full-fledged citizens of
Nigeria.� What the Igbo people demand
forthrightly for themselves, they equally canvass for fellow deprived
nationals, in line with the Christian spirit of justice and solidarity.
Conclusion
In
conclusion, we earnestly invite the Federal Government and all Nigerians to
hearken to the reconciliatory message of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II,
addressed to the nation during the historic beatification ceremony at Oba, Onitsha:
All Nigerians must work to rid
society of everything that offends the dignity of the human person or violates
human rights.� This means reconciling
differences, overcoming ethnic rivalries, and injecting honesty, efficiency and
competence into the art of governing. � When we see others as brothers and
sisters, it is then possible to begin the process of healing the divisions
within society and between ethnic groups.�
This is the reconciliation which is the path to true peace and authentic
progress for Nigeria and for Africa.
(22nd
of March, 1998).
Blessing
As
we celebrate Christmas and enter the New Year 2004, may the saving light of
Jesus Christ, the Newborn King, shine on us to guide us all along the true path
of justice, peace and unity.
Signed
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Rev. A. J. V. Obinna, Archbishop of Owerri
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Rev. V. M. Okeke, Archbishop of Onitsha
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Rev. A. K. Obiefuna, Archbishop Emeritus of Onitsha
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Rev. A. O. Gbuji, Bishop of Enugu
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Rev. M. U. Eneja, Bishop Emeritus of Enugu
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Rev. M. N. Okoro, Bishop of Abakiliki
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Rev. G. O. Ochiagha, Bishop of Orlu
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Rev. A. E. Ilonu, Bishop of Okigwe
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Rev. V. A. Chikwe, Bishop of Ahiara
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Rev. L. I. Ugorji, Bisbop of Umuahia
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Rev. V. V. Ezeonyia, Bishop of Aba
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Rev. F.E. Okobo, Bishop of Nsukka
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Rev. S. A. Okafor, Bisbop of Awka
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Rev. H. O. Okeke, Bishop of Nnewi
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Rev. S. A. Amatu, Auxiliary Bishop of Awka
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