Catholic Archbishop of Abuja diocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, on Tuesday called on government at all levels to strive to eliminate impunity in the handling of its affairs.

This, he said, would be a pragmatic way of encouraging the teaching and practice of ethical values in the country.

Onaiyekan made the call while addressing the media on the issue of “Peace, Attitudinal Change, and Change Agenda” in Abuja on Tuesday.

The clergyman said the teaching of ethics will be extremely difficult in a society where evil-doing was not only ignored but seemed to be encouraged by political leaders.

He also said religious institutions had a role to play but lamented the situation where the government abdicates its responsibility in the guise of maintaining religious neutral when certain ills are plaguing the society.

He said: “There is a role for the state to play (in the teaching of ethics). If the state does not play its role, it becomes very difficult for others to do so. A situation where not only evil-doing is not only ignored but seems to be even encouraged makes teaching of ethics extremely difficult.

“As a religious leader, we have often heard the young ones saying ‘All they are saying is very good, very right; but out there, a different rule is operating.’ When I was a young boy, we were told honesty is the best policy, and we believed it because we saw it. We saw that honest people went well and we also saw dishonest people disgraced. But, when I look at my nephews now, they are seeing dishonest people just getting on, and they are seeing honest people just left where they are. This leaves us with an amoral set-up, a kind of situation where morality does not seem attractive again.”

“The religious institutions and the state have equal roles to play. What makes it a bit more complicated in Nigeria is that; we are, generally, Christians and Muslims in this country. Therefore, when government comes into the picture it does wants to abdicate its responsibility in the name of neutrality.

“But I tell anybody in government, ‘Listen, what is not good is not good it has nothing to do with religion. We all know it is bad to be dishonest, we all know it is bad to be deceiving people.’ This we must work on. If there is a little bit more in that regard, it is that the structures of state should work in such a way that impunity is reduced to the minimum and good rules are made and enforced. Then it is easier for religious bodies to play their part.”

Please Read More Here: http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/01/why-government-must-operate-without.html

If the government is run without impunity, it'll seem more like a military regime.....

Considering its disadvantages, Nigeria will likely experience a civil war as Nigeria will be divided into those who support and those who opposes!!!