Should the NLC embark on another strike to protest the fuel price hike?
Okogie Links Anambra Crisis to Okija
By Andrew Ahiante, 11.11.2004
Archbishop of Lagos Catholic Archdiocese, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has condemned the new wave of political thuggery in Anambra State, linking it to the unholy deeds of Okija shrine. Okogie, in a swift reaction to the burning down of some places in the state by some hoodlums, called on Federal Government to take prompt action to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state. The Police, acting on a tip off recently discovered Okija shrine with different human skulls. Okogie, in his goodwill mesage to the Muslims, particularly called on government to address the many issues raised by the Okija saga, stressing that peace and harmony in Anambra State would depend largely on the Okrija saga. "Why should the Federal Government allow things to degenerate to this extent in Anambra State. What is going on in Anambra State is bad. Once something like this happens, the Federal Government should be able to condemn it and take a decisive action," Okogie said, noting that the problem in the state can be traced to Okija saga. Emphasising that the current trend of things in the state was capable of giving the nation a bad image, Okogie charged government to be fair to all parties involved in the crisis, starting by first solving the issues raised by the Okija saga. He advised against imposing state of emergency in the state, saying such would further complicate the crisis. Okogie, who spoke on the state of the nation in general, advised Federal Government and authority of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to further explore dialogue to avert the economic consequences of the strike action being proposed by NLC. He said it has become more imperative for President Olusegun Obasanjo who has always been saying his government is a listening one to "listen to the voice of the people and act accordingly." Also, Okogie urged NLC to re-strategise as the masses were always the one who suffer during strike action.
The Cardinal, who singled out General Yakubu Gowon as the only person that has ruled Nigerian well, considering the age he assumed the leadership of the nation, urged government to re-examine its anti-corruption crusade against the background of the recent rating by Transparency International (IT), placing the nation as third most corrupt nation in the world. "A whole ship has got missing in this nation. This goes to confirm the IT rating of Nigeria as the third most corrupt country in the world. We should realise that other countries are watching us," Okogie said, advising government to look inward and fill the missing link. "Let us look inward and correct ourselves. Chinua Achebe rejected an award, people are talking. Is he not right. People are suffering, no jobs, no food. Must we condone evil to the detriment of good virtue?" He queried. Accordingly, Okogie said Nigerians who could have been able to ask question have been forced to go under like Dele Giwa, Bola Ige among others and queried the whereabouts of some prominent Nigerians who helped kick-start this democratic era including General Danjuma, Okogie, who spoke on some of the challenges raised to religious leaders by the just concluded African Anglican Bishop Conference with regard to debt relief, said he would not mind joining the campaign for debt relief, but questioned the manner government officials spend such moneys.
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