Nigerian Cardinal thanks Pope and
calls out politicians
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| A Fulani shepherd in Paiko, Niger state, Nigeria |
Following a papal appeal on Sunday, Nigerian Cardinal John
Onaiyekan says his people are grateful to Pope Francis for his prayers and for
highlighting the critical situation in the West African country.
By Linda Bordoni
“I’m sure most Nigerians are very much delighted and
grateful to the Holy Father for publicly announcing his concern for the
situation of insecurity and violence in our country”, said Cardinal
John Onaiyekan, the day after the Pope’s appeal during the Sunday Angelus.
His plea to pray for the many victims of “inhumane” violence
in the West African nations of Nigeria and Mali, and his appeal to “convert
cruel hearts” resounded in a desolate media landscape that, the Cardinal said,
seems to have forgotten the suffering of so many people.
Cardinal Onaiyekan revealed that thanks to his constant
interaction with Pope Francis, he knows that his country is always in the Holy
Father’s prayers.
“Every time I meet him and ask him ‘please keep praying for
Nigeria’, he says ‘I do that every day!’”, he said.
A forgotten tragedy
Describing the ongoing violence and suffering of the people
as “forgotten news”, Cardinal Onaiyekan decried the fact that it no longer
makes the front page in the international media.
“It’s almost as if they are tired of us”, he said. “But no
matter how forgotten it is, the people who are themselves concerned cannot
forget, especially the victims”.
No victims forget, he explained, even the victims of past
violence, because their loved ones are gone.
Recent escalation of violence
The Cardinal said that in the recent two months or so there
have been even more reasons for concern following a sharp escalation of the
level of violence.
Before, he said, it was perceived as religious strife, with
clashes between Christians and Muslims.
Then, the focus was on socio-economic clashes between
farmers and herdsmen.
“But what we have seen recently is more political”, he said.
Political matrix
Cardinal Onaiyekan explained that he believes much enmity is
fostered by political opponents who “instead of simply going to vote and
letting their votes be counted so that the winner may emerge, they deploy all
kinds of violent means to outdo one another”.
He spoke of what he called “large-scale accusations that
politicians are recruiting thugs and arming them to create mayhem”.
At the same time, he said, there are also “large-scale
accusations that the government - that in this case also happens to be party to
this context - is misusing state security apparatus to intimidate and oppress
opponents”.
The Cardinal expressed his concern that, with this kind of
situation, the stage may be set for another serious breakdown of law and order.
“We are really very, very worried about this”, he said.
Cardinal Onaiyekan pointed out that the Nigerian Bishops’
Conference has also, on many occasions, released clear statements condemning
the abuse of power and reiterating that human life is precious.
“We have always insisted on the importance of respecting
human life, no matter whose life is involved”, he said.
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