‘Insecurity, result of failure in governance’

Vice Provincial Superior, Redemptorist of Nigeria, Fr. Joterio Aghoja, has said that the fragile security situation in Nigeria is as a result of failure in governance.

He stated this yesterday during the Mary of Perpetual Help and Parish Feast Day Celebration at Saint’s Michael, Raphael and Gabriel Catholic Church, The Archangels’ Parish, Satellite Town, Lagos.

“Lack of security in Nigeria is as a result of failure in governance. The onus is on the government to provide security, health, education and housing. The government must rejig the security apparatus in the country and there should be proper policing. If you travel along the road, you will see police at every corner but there is no connection between them. Just as travellers on the train from Kaduna to Abuja get protected, people on the road should also enjoy protection. People should enjoy adequate security of lives and property in their homes. The security situation in Nigeria is beyond dialoguing; it is about strengthening security. Criminals are criminals, you don’t dialogue with criminals,” he said.

Aghoja, who criticised the plan by the Federal Government to settle herders, said: “Developed countries have ranches and they are only built by individuals who are into the business and not the government. It is not the function of the government to confiscate people’s lands and give them to other persons. Will people selling building materials also demand for a special place for themselves? I think it is a complex situation that the government must think about and find the best way to deal with the issue. The issue of Ruga can lead to something we cannot predict.”

While advising Nigerian youths to arise and shine and do what they supposed to do, he said the Catholic Church withdrew its membership of the national Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) because the association had been politicised.

He said that the intention of founding the association had been defeated, making Catholic to remain part of CAN at the local level and not at the national level.

Meanwhile, the Parish priest, Rev. Fr. Gabriel Achu, who spoke at the event to mark the feast and also celebrate Our Mother of Perpetual, said: “We are part of the beautiful history because through this feast and through our presence, we are indeed fulfilling the injunction of Pope Pius IX. As Redemptorists, we feel very privileged to carry on with this tradition of honouring Mary under the title of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. And as a parish served by the Redemptorists and the Religious Sisters of Charity, I consider this as a privilege. “It is a sign of solidarity and, also a reaffirmation of our common belief as Catholics.