I belong to non (Fulanis), i belong to all (Fulanis). Now u know d missing words

Hope they visited with cows.

*AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF NIGERIA (CBCN) ON THE OCCASION OF A COURTESY CALL ON HIS EXCELLENCY MOHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, THURSDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 2018*

Your Excellency,

*Preamble*

We, the representatives of the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, bring you our cordial greetings and blessings. We desired this meeting, in order to continue the dialogue we initiated with you even before your election as President. We therefore thank you for granting us this audience, which affords us the opportunity to share with you, once again, our thoughts and concerns on some issues affecting our dear country, Nigeria.

 First, we thank God for bringing you back to us healthier and stronger after a period of ill health. We hope and pray that you continue to make progress on the way to full recovery, in order to be able to face the enormous challenges emanating from your exalted office.

 Your Excellency, needless to say that, as President, you are the Father of our dear country Nigeria. It is therefore pertinent that as loyal citizens as well as informed members of the society we come to you from time to time to express not only our willing cooperation with the government in working for the progress of our country, but also to share with you the feelings of the multitude of Nigerians at this moment. We work with the people at the grassroots and, therefore, have first-hand information about what they are going through.

There is no doubt that when you came into office, you had an enormous amount of the goodwill of Nigerians, since many saw you as a person of integrity who would be able to bring sanity into a system that was nearly crippled by endemic corruption. Nearly three years later, however, one has the feeling that this good will is being fast depleted by some glaring failures of government which we have the moral duty to bring to your notice, else we would be failing in our duty as spiritual fathers and leaders.

*Our Concerns*

Your Excellency, there is too much suffering in the country: poverty, hunger, joblessness, insecurity, violence, fear… the list is endless. Our beloved country appears to be under siege. Many negative forces seem to be keeping a stranglehold on the population, especially the weaker and defenseless ones. There is a feeling of hopelessness across the country. Our youths are restive and many of them have taken to hard drugs, cultism and other forms of violent crime, while many have become victims of human trafficking. The Nation is nervous.

 Just as we seem to be gradually emerging from the dark tunnel of an economic recession that caused untold hardship to families and individuals, violent attacks by unscrupulous persons, among whom are terrorists masquerading as herdsmen, have led to a near civil war situation in many parts of the country. We are saddened that repeatedly innocent citizens in different communities across the nation are brutally attacked and their sources of livelihood mindlessly destroyed. Property, worth billions of Naira, including places of worship, schools, hospitals and business enterprises are torched and turned to ashes. We are still more saddened by the recent massacre of unarmed citizens by these terrorists in some communities in Benue, Adamawa, Kaduna and Taraba States which has caused national shock, grief and outcry. What is even more distressful is that the government, whose responsibility it is to protect the life and property of every citizen seems either incapable or unwilling to do this. The silence of the federal government in the wake of these horrifying attacks is, to say the least, shocking. There is a feeling of helplessness among the people and the danger that some people may begin to take laws into their hands.

We therefore earnestly urge the government to take very seriously its primary responsibility of protecting the lives and property of its citizens and ensure that such mindless killings do not reoccur. Herdsmen may be under pressure to save their livestock and economy but this is never to be done at the expense of other people’s lives and means of livelihood. We would like to add our voice to those of other well-meaning Nigerians who insist that a better alternative to open grazing should be sought rather than introducing “cattle colonies” in the country. While thinking of how best to help cattle owners establish ranches, government should equally have plans to help the other farmers whose produce is essential for our survival as a nation.

In a similar vein, daredevil kidnappers, who at present are having a field day, with a feeling of invincibility, must be made to understand that there is a government in this country. Government should invest more in equipping our Police Force with modern high-tech devices that will help them track down and arrest these criminals and make them face the wrath of the law.

The Federal Character Principle is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria:“_The government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that government or in any of its agencies_” (Section 14, Sub-section 3-4). Disregard for this Principle in some federal government appointments as well as perceptible imbalance in the distribution of federal amenities has created the loss of a sense of belonging in many parts of the country, hence the constant cries of marginalization, agitation for secession and calls for restructuring.
 

*Conclusion and Assurance of Prayers*

Our Church has always complemented the efforts of government in such areas as providing quality education and primary health care services to our people. We shall continue to support the effort of the government in nation-building. As the voice of the voiceless, we shall therfore continue to highlight the plight of our people and play our prophetic role of sensitizing the government, thus promoting national unity and cohesion. As we encourage you to spare no effort to build a new Nigeria, we reassure you of our support and prayers for your success.  On the long run,Government under your watch must do all in its power through good policies to restore confidence that government is for all and sundry. Our collective efforts must be seen in the desire to return to the fine principles of democracy such as true federalism, negotiation and consensus building as means of achieving a more equitable distribution of the resources of our country.

Thank you, Your Excellency, for the audience and may God bless you.

 
*Most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Ayau Kaigama* 
Archbishop of Jos President, CBCN

*Most Rev. Dr. William Avenya*
Bishop of Gboko
Secretary, CBCN

If he likes let him receive The Pope, he is going back.

2019 campaign has started.

TheKingIsHere:
If he likes let him receive the Pope, what we know is that this useless illiterate dullard will be sent back to daura in 2019.

We will do the talking in 2019 at the polling units not on social media

U AND USUOFIA HAVE THE MOST USELESS AND SENSELESS COMENTS ON NAIRALAND SO FAR

SweetJoystick:
Useless president

U HAVE THE MOST USELESS AND SENSELESS COMENTS ON NAIRALAND SO FAR

osuofia2:
Buhari a curse on Nigerian

axcer:
GistMore.com

President Buhari today received in audience Catholic Bishops at the Council Chambers, the State House Abuja.

https://www.gistmore.com/president-buhari-receives-catholic-bishops-state-house-photos

buhari has become an evangelist because of 2019 elections; D

Sariki

axcer:
GistMore.com

President Buhari today received in audience Catholic Bishops at the Council Chambers, the State House Abuja.

https://www.gistmore.com/president-buhari-receives-catholic-bishops-state-house-photos

buhari has become an evangelist because of 2019 elections; D

Sariki

DEUNSTOPPABLE:
U HAVE THE MOST USELESS AND SENSELESS COMENTS ON NAIRALAND SO FAR

U, Buhari, APC, One Nigeria, NPF are crimes against humanity.

The reason why I hate Jonathan was that he never sacked ABBA MORRO minister of interior ,turned monster of interior over the NIS Nigeria immigration service recruit exercise


It shall never be well with both APC and PDP for giving us wrong choice at a time

If Pmb likes let him hv meeting with CAN and Pope...... let him just leave Nigeria in Peace

doughziay:


Lol. E pain am

you just showed what you are.
A KID.
Now go watch nickelodeon with your mates

TheKingIsHere:
If he likes let him receive the Pope, what we know is that this useless illiterate dullard will be sent back to daura in 2019.

He will be sent back, but not with donald duke

Mogidi:
After each round of Fulani killings, Bubu always invite Christian leaders to hoodwink the gullible.

Same pattern every time.
1. Fulanis go on killing spree
2. Invite Christian leaders to Aso Rock
3. Take pictures.

You have sense

Make una tell am the truth o!

afbstrategies:
One thing I like about Nigerians is that when we are fed up, we are fed up and there is nothing any cabal or president can do about it. Ask IBB and OBJ what happened when they tried to play games with us. An assembly of world catholic bishops will not solve Buhari's problems right now. Everything he is doing right now is cosmetic and that makes his case even worse.

And don't you think that little pressures left and right will keep him on his toes before 2019 arrives for people to vote him in or out?

tete7000:



And don't you think that little pressures left and right will keep him on his toes before 2019 arrives for people to vote him in or out?

He is tone deaf, stubborn and ignorant. There is no kind of pressure that work for people like him. The mistake has been made already, let's hope that Nigerians have learnt their lessons going forward.

afbstrategies:


He is tone deaf, stubborn and ignorant. There is no kind of pressure that work for people like him.

Keeping totally quiet will make our situation worse. People must keep talking.

tete7000:


Keeping totally quiet will make our situation worse. People must keep talking.

No one is keeping quiet. OBJ, IBB and many others have openly spoken out but he is in denial. Only God will put pressure on him.

afbstrategies:


No one is keeping quiet. OBJ, IBB and many others have openly spoken out but he is in denial.

Uhmm!, e go beta. Time solves all problems.

tete7000:


Uhmm!, e go beta. Time solves all problems.

Absolutely. You're correct.

I can sight Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Prof Godfrey Onah.

this cow
all your efforts are in vain
it is over
even the devil knows

DEUNSTOPPABLE:
U HAVE THE MOST USELESS AND SENSELESS COMENTS ON NAIRALAND SO FAR

Zombie spotted

Dear nairaland, by the look of things. APC has connection with BOKO HARAM. This guys saying this, is to distract people away from IBB letter to BUHARI..NIGERIANS be WISE..APC are working with Bokoharam.. BUHARI VISIT TO NASARAWA to Commissioned the newly open international market in mararaba. Thought me a lesson.. You could have see the way Crowded FULANI where parading with their stick and motorcycle just to welcome BUHARI.what a shame

Hmm are this once true bishops or men for d media. I can't be deceived a 7th time.

Who has noticed that it will be easy for the North to rig 2019 elections in favor of Buhari or his 'Protege'?

The Security Chiefs are MOSTLY Northerners, hence with the influence, they can win again!

Something SHOULD URGENTLY be done to correct the Federal Character Principle in Public Office Appointment (especially Security Chiefs) or else... (Remember Benue!)

Kindly reshare TILL it is fixed