Nobody Can Fragment Nigeria, Says Okogie
By Ndubuisi Francis
Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie has affirmed that nobody can dismember the country even as he accused politicians of fanning numbers of violence to satisfy or massage selfish motives. He assured that any attempt to fragment the nation would fail.
The Catholic cleric who spoke in Lagos while receiving Governor Saminu Turaki of Jigawa State who paid him a visit, recalled his civil war memories, adding that his experience during the war shaped his attitude to be fearless.
"It was that war experience that makes me not to fear anybody. I may look small but I fear nobody. I tell the truth. Ethnicity is there to disturb peace. Most crises in Nigeria are personality inclined. Politicians are guilty of fuelling violence to satisfy or massage selfish motives, he alleged.
Okogie who noted that people were not pleased with governance, urged the government to live up to its social responsibility while applauded the handing over of some public schools to missions.
He noted that such "schools are okay" and that "a fresh lease of life has been injected".
The cleric who said he judges people by their performance added that "except somebody wants to play foul, God is always on the side of the just.
He said "from studies it has been revealed that violence in Nigeria is personality motivated", adding: "Abacha was my friend. What destroyed him were those behind him. Sycophants are the ones who destroy leaders. A leader who wants to succeed must place his life in the hands of God".
Okogie who said the country was in need of courageous men who will not necessarily exert force on people, concluded that as an optimist he was of the belief that irrespective of what the nation is today, it would move forward some day.
In his remarks, Turaki said his visit to the Catholic cleric was to solicit his support and understanding in his (Turaki's) peace initiative.
The governor who is sponsoring a bill in the National Assembly to erase the problem of indigenes/settlers from the national consciousness, said his peace initiative was to foster unity in the country and curb sectarian as well as ethnic, religious and political violence.
Turaki stated that his visit to Okogie was borne out of his acknowledgment and respect for the Catholic faith, adding that Okogie was one of the few respected African Cardinals.
He stated that as the first and oldest, the Catholic church as the "father of all churches has a huge followership".
The Jigawa State Governor said the church has been in the vanguard of promoting peace and urged all to eschew political violence since the nation needed to forge ahead.
According to him, Nigerians need to forge ahead, foster unity hence the necessity to partner with all faiths and religious leaders like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). the
He called on his fellow Northern governors to foster national integration as the basis for moving the nation forward.
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