The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has called for positive thinking and action towards reconciliation, mercy and peace in the country. The body noted that tribal, regional and religious sentiments have held Nigerians in bondage for decades.
In a communique at the end of its 2016 plenary in Abuja, CBCN urged Nigerians to work in solidarity to correct imbalances in resource/power sharing, adding that proper social security and good governance will engender functional education, employment, health-care, social justice and development, and thus curb corruption, violence, and poverty in the country.
The statement jointly signed by the President CBCN, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama and the Secretary Most Rev William Avenya readst: “In the spirit of restitution and healing of hurts, we request the relevant governments at all levels to return and rehabilitate the schools taken over by the governments after the Nigerian civil war, to their rightful owners, including the Catholic Church. Also, in the light of divine mercy, we urge the relevant government authorities to exercise their discretions on the prerogative of mercy, pardon and amnesty with which they are empowered by the National Constitution in the interest of the common good.”
The conference commended the efforts of the Nigerian government, the Military and other security agencies in degrading Boko Haram Insurgency, especially in the North Eastern part of Nigeria, but pointed out that there are strings of attacks soft targets such as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps, markets and parks.
“We encourage the government and security agencies to do all they can to defeat insurgents and prevent further loss of lives. We pray for God’s mercy on all who have died in this war. We equally enjoin government and indeed all Nigerians, to seek alternative strategies towards ending terrorism and thus win them over to our communities.”
While commending the initiative of the Federal Government towards rehabilitation of Boko Haram victims, the Bishops also urged the government not to lose sight of the destroyed properties of all affected groups, including the religious bodies, and requested that the composition of relevant committees should include religious leaders in the North East, who are already working hard in this regard.
The body also hailed the ongoing fight against corruption and called on the government to use appropriate legal processes to thoroughly investigate the crimes of the past, transparently prosecute accused persons, and hold the guilty accountable in accordance with the laws of the land.
“Nonetheless, legal efforts are not enough. We enjoin all to seek positive and effective way forward through our common spiritual and religious values, namely, prayers and spiritual/moral rebirth as basis for repentance, reparation and reconciliation.
