Incidence of violence in Nigeria very unfortunate, alarming – Bishop Kukah
By Ifeoma Ikem
Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, has decried the high level of incessant violence across the nation.
Kukah, said this through Zoom presentation during the Bible Speak’ 23 Conference supported by Apostolic Roundtable (ART) and Civic Consciousness Global Initiative (CCGI) held in Lagos.
The Bishop described the incidence of violence in the nation very unfortunate and alarming which had claimed thousands of lives.
He condemned all the recent violence in Lagos and other parts of the nation during the 2023 general elections noting that there must be a way to find a lasting solution.
“There are other ways to handle the situation rather than in conflicts which worsens the situation, saying that as a nation we must do away with politics of ethnicity and region”, added.
The conference with the theme, ‘After The Strom’, had in attendance several Christian and political leaders, including the Emeritus Archbishop of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Sunday Ola Makinde, who chaired the occasion.
He said the crisis between the Igbo and Yoruba In Lagos was regrettable because the relationship between people of the two ethnic groups is like that of husband and wife.
“You don’t end a marriage because of a quarrel.
“We have no other country, after the elections and conflict, there must be reconciliation, “This is our only country. We must join hands to build it together.”
Prof Yemi Osinbajo, the vice president of Nigeria one of the speakers who also spoke through Zoom said Nigeria need to unite for the growth, progress and sustainable of the nation.
“To achieve our goal, the main objective is to settle any difference between the tribal groups and move the nation forward.
The Convener of the Apostolic Roundtable, Dr Bolaji Akinyemi , said that the idea behind ‘After the Storm’, came out of the assessment after the general elections and we felt that was not a good one.
“We saw that things were drifting apart, for example, the Yorubas struck against the Igbos and we felt that there is a need to bring everybody together and progress.
“We now have a reason to say we have something to build on, we are going forward, we are able to tell people that what we need to do now is to wait for justice to take its course.
“It is now at the discretion of the judiciary to strengthen the democracy through the rule of Law and if democracy most function well there has to be an enabling environment for democratic practices.
“We must leave ourselves and consider unity so we can all live together in peace”, he added.
Dr John Adejoro-Oluwa also one of the speakers noted that Although the people are waiting for politicians to justify themselves but must stop generating hatred, discrimination, tribalism and so on.
“Justice is like the level of gravity whether there is a leader or not, whatever goes up must come down.
Adejoro added that the church is not helping matters rather they are fighting to gain positions that can only be obtained from God.
His eminence Dr Sunday Ola Makinde, advised Nigerians to come together, stand as a nation and speak with one voice.
“Crisis destroys especially the economic and development growth of any nation”, Makinde added.
Other leaders who spoke at the event included Sheik Ahmed Gumi, Rev. Solomon Adegbolagun, the CCGI Chairman, Revd Dr J. B Odofin, Bishop of the Anglican Church, Bishop Funso Awe, Jandor and others.
