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The church has been advised to drop its timidity and take the frontline in galvanising Nigerians to tackle those unleashing violence on the country and its citizens.
The call was made by Dr. Seinde Arigbede, the Guest Speaker at this year’s edition of the Annual Adegbola Memorial Lecture.
Speaking at the lecture held at the Institute of Church and Society, Samonda, Ibadan recently, the neuro-surgeon-turned farmer said all manner of corrupt practices, from financial to political crimes fuelling incessant slaughter of innocent Nigerians with impunity, constitute “social violence,” which no society desirous of progress should condone.
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According to him, the church, more than most bodies, possesses the population, orientation, intellect and clout to lead a popular resistance against these evils, if only it will dump its docility and timidity.
He said: “You don’t need to go blowing up Dodan Barracks to register your objections, but the legendary Christian forgiveness should never be extended to criminals perpetrating violence on the Nigerian people.
“Bad government, which is so endemic today, is elite violence on our people. Corruption is violence on our people on whose shoulders these elites stand. We should not forgive criminals but must tell them “No!”
Earlier, the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Nigeria and a Conflict Resolution and Security Expert, Rev, (Dr.) Ibrahim Yusuf Wushishi, gave a saddening account of ongoing killings in Jos, Plateau State and urged prayers for a quick end to the evil.
The late Rt. Rev. Adeolu Adegbola, the first African Director of the Institute of Church and Society, was described as a great teacher, profound thinker and powerful unifying force for all Christian denominations.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu described him as “a principled…man, who was seeking to help our African Church come to terms with a proper independence from alien influences and to become a genuine African phenomenon.”
The yearly lecture, which has been on since 2005 (with exception of 2016 and 2017) is organised by the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), a body committed to rigorous application of Christian principles to improve the Nigerian society.
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