As many continue to threaten the corporate life of the country in the build -up to 2015, Nigerian has been warned to shun politicians and political parties with ethnic and religious agenda during the elections.
They were also reminded that the freedom of the abducted Chibok Girls is the responsibility of all Nigerians.
Matthew Hassan Kukah
Making the call in Port Harcourt on Friday, the Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev Matthew Hassan Kukah also the Nigerian political class to see public service as a call to serve God and humanity and not a call to self-enrichment or to champion ethnic interests.
Kukah spoke at a public lecture titled “Politics, Christians and good governance in Nigeria: The challenge to be different” at the 2nd Session of the 2nd synod of the Diocese of Evo, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
“Loyalty to ethnic affiliations as a factor for choosing candidates in elections in Nigeria is the foundation of the stunted electoral process and corruption in the polity and all Nigerians, especially Christians, must streamline and balance their loyalties between ethnic interests and the unity, growth and development of the country,” he declared
He noted that the myriad of crises besetting the country were traceable to allegiance to ethnic and primordial sentiments,adding, ” when ethnicity becomes a prism through which citizens look at and react to national issues, the result would always be conflict and corruption because it would always create room for enthroning leaders whose interest are not the good of the country as a single entity”.
According to Kukah, who was secretary of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, also known as the Oputa Panel, “The question at the centre of all the problems and crises that the country is going through from time to time is the question of how to manage the pluralistic nature of our society and country and once this problem is addressed, the country would experience peace and development.”
He pointed out that this challenge was the burden of political and church leadership in Nigeria and therefore called on all Nigerians in political leadership positions and those seeking political office to fashion out ways in which to make the best out of the nation’s diversity.
He insisted that ethnic, religious and political diversities in the country should not be an excuse to kill one another as the country was experiencing in parts of the North currently.
He enjoined Christians in political governance positions to properly understand the position of God on the role of the church in enthroning a culture of accountability in governance in Nigeria.
The cleric said the issue of who would be president of Nigeria in 2015 was in the hand of God and could not be manipulated against God’s will.
He expressed dissatisfaction with those blaming the federal government over the continued abduction of the Chibok girls by Boko Haram.
He maintained that the issue of the release of the Chibok girls is the responsibility of all and should not be left alone for the Federal government if we are honest as a country.
“The way we talk about issues affecting Nigeria is making everything to look as if we are at war with one another, we must mind what we say about the president and the country. Other African countries are not happy with us; other developed countries are not happy with us but we are not the worst country.
“Some people said the president is weak; that he is sponsoring impeachment against his enemies and that he is encouraging BoKo Haram. All these are very dangerous to our democracy. As far as I am concerned, the ultimate is the peace of the country,” he said.