₦airaland Forum

Ignatius Kaigama, the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, says the current spate of security challenges facing Nigeria calls for serious retrospection from the leadership and all citizens.

He said this on Sunday in a homily he delivered during his pastoral visit to St. Luke’s Catholic Church, Kubwa, Abuja.

Mr Kaigama, who administered the sacrament of confirmation to about 500 candidates during the event, used the medium to speak on the state of affairs in the country.

He said that before now, Nigerians were branded as the happiest and most religious people on earth.

“In spite of the magnitude of evil going on in our land, on Sundays and Fridays, people fill the churches and mosques, and my question is, where are these evil perpetrators coming from? Do they really worship God?” he said.

Mr Kaigama, who traced the problem plaguing the country to the 1960 Nigeria/Biafran civil war, noted that it was since then that tribalism and religious sentiments became measures used in sharing national resources.

He said this situation had degenerated to some people being treated as sacred cows, after they stole resources belonging to the public and nothing happens to them.

“Rather than being punished, they get honoured and most of what they stole their children and children’s children can’t finish.

“All these are things causing us to draw back, but in other places, such things are not done. In South Africa, South Korea, and other countries, things are done differently; leaders are punished for wrongdoing.

“We are too polite to leaders who stole our common patrimonies in our country and until we begin to punish such corrupt leaders, things can’t move forward.

“In our country, if you say that a former leader from any part of the country had done something wrong, all the groups in that part would come to his defence, and that is why we are not moving forward,” Mr Kaigama said.

He said in Equatorial Guinea, an oil-producing nation like Nigeria, the level of development there is great and yet Nigeria has nothing to show for its oil

The archbishop said, “If we must get things right, leaders must think of the nation and not tribe and religion.”

He asked God to touch the hearts of those perpetrating evils, especially in Nigeria, for them to have a change of heart.

Mr Kaigama said, “Police in the world are those who, when in trouble, if you run to them and they will help you, but I don’t know if that is the case in Nigeria.”

The archbishop, who alluded to Nigeria being declared a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by President Donald Trump and the threat of military action, said there is a need for in-depth reflection on the intervention before taking any further action.

“America should give us holistic help and not bombing and flying drones and thereafter go their way.

“They should not bomb and run away as they did in Afghanistan and Iran after shattering the whole place;, that kind of help is not what we want here,” he said.

He prayed for those in captivity, especially school children recently kidnapped in kebbi, Niger, a priest killed in Kaduna and an army general killed in Borno, among others.

“We should pray for good leadership, both elected and non-elected leadership. We are tired of killings, destruction and evil,” he said.

The police command in Anambra has stepped up patrols and intensified intelligence gathering, as part of measures to secure schools and churches in the state.

The police public relations officer in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Awka.

“The Commissioner of Police Ikioye Orutugu has announced strengthened security measures across schools and Churches in Anambra, as part of a proactive strategy to prevent threats and ensure a secure environment for learning and worship.''

“In line with these developments, the commissioner has directed Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Commanders to intensify their ongoing security patrols, reinforce intelligence-driven operations, among others,” he said.

According to Mr Ikenga, the commissioner reiterated the command’s unwavering dedication to protecting lives and property, assuring residents that the police will continue to adapt and enhance security strategies to meet evolving challenges.

He quoted Mr Orutugu as saying that the command would sustain the already established atmosphere of peace in the state.

The commissioner commended the growing unity of safety consciousness among residents, noting that the people have continued to demonstrate commendable cooperation, vigilance, and the spirit of being their brothers’ keepers.

“This collective commitment has significantly supported the command’s efforts in maintaining peace and security across the state,” Mr Orutugu said.

The police in Anambra are taking proactive measures following recent attacks and kidnappings by suspected bandits in some schools and churches in the Northern part of the country and the South-West.

Pope Leo XIV calls for the release of over 300 hostages taken from a Catholic school in one of the largest mass kidnappings in Nigeria.

“I learned with immense sadness the news of the kidnappings of priests, faithful, and students in Nigeria,” he says.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Saturday said gunmen had kidnapped more than 300 students and teachers in raids on two schools in the country.

“I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate release of the hostages,” Leo says, expressing his “deep sorrow, especially for the many young boys and girls kidnapped and for their anguished families.”

“Let us pray for these brothers and sisters of ours and that churches and schools may always and everywhere remain places of safety and hope,” he says at the end of the Angelus prayer.

Gunmen on Monday stormed a secondary school in Kebbi state, abducting 25 girls. That was followed by an early Friday raid on St Mary’s co-education school in Niger state.

helinues:
Who are the people deliberately causing the insecurity?

helinues:
All blames have been shifted to the FG for not doing enough about the insecurity across the country but we never bother to ask about the people behind who are causing the insecurity deliberately.

What do they intend to achieve, is their criminal activities about religion, political or personal gain?

paxonel:
Big lies!

There is nothing like water spirit, juju or witchcraft.
They are all traditional myths meant for fictional stories to entertain children

jesusjnr2020:
You mean Paul Enenche was being sarcastic about loan apps being agents of the devil?

SarcasticWords:
Nice one Man of God.

Only use loan apps when you are broke and you need to go to church. Remember if you don't pay your tithe you go back to square one.

God will take back all his blessings from you because like a babalawo, God needs money before he can give you blessings.

Please take note.

jesusjnr2020:
Ok.. how about church leaders threatening their members with death and hell fire because of tithes?

Are they much better?

Besides loan apps need timely repayment of loans they disburse to people to sustain their business otherwise they will all crash.

So I do not put the entire blame on loan apps for some of the extreme measures they have to take to retrieve the loans they give to people, because they actually need the repayment to survive, and humans can be very terrible when it comes to repayment of loans even when they have the means to.

Do you know how many people have gone mental, depressed or even lost their lives because they decided to assist an ingrate in their time of need when they begged for a loan with a promise to repay immediately they had the money, only to turn into monsters and mockers afterwards?

So please do not encourage people to keep owing loan apps because there are also humans behind them who rely on the repayment of loans for their survival and sustainance.

Moreover they don't force anyone to collect loans from them so anyone who doesn't want to be harrassed by them shouldn't patronise them otherwise repay in time to avoid harrassment.

Btw loan apps have saved many people's lives and businesses though I don't work for any loan app but God.

God bless.

nans24:
Will it not be odd and fetish if people made use of the above image in churches, magazines, bibles , shirt, stickers and jewelleries?

our members are also suffering from the hunger and hardship Nigerians are currently going through.

they have no adequate reasons to participate in the organized protest against the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Primate, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the way and manner the Nigerian Government is looking down on some genuine Church organisations like the Congress of Nigerian Gospel Ministers,... The government is not carrying the Churches along

National President, Congress of Nigerian Gospel Ministers Incorporated, His Eminence, Most Rev Prof. Philip Okpanwa Akam, has stated that his members across the 36 states in Nigeria will not be joining the planned nationwide protest against hunger and economic hardship, set to commence August 2024.

Prof Akam described members of his Congress as genuine Ministers of God who are peaceful and law-abiding citizens, asserting that they have no adequate reasons to participate in the organized protest against the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Akam who is also the Primate, Christ The Light Gospel Mission Incorporated made the position of the Congress known to Journalists shortly after meeting with the Anambra State Chapter of the Congress in Amawbia-Awka, on Friday July 19th, 2024.

According to him, whatever, the protest, be it peaceful or non-peaceful, we are not going to be part of it. Nobody who is a member of this Congress would participate. Members of our Churches should not participate and we should go back to our various congregations and tell them that we are not part of this type of protest that is upcoming, that we have a better option, and the option is to meet with the President and have a talk with him about his leadership style, where we think he has done it right and where we think he has not done it right, then we advised him on how best he can handle to address the challenges, because our members are also suffering from the hunger and hardship Nigerians are currently going through.

The Primate, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the way and manner the Nigerian Government is looking down on some genuine Church organisations like the Congress of Nigerian Gospel Ministers, established and Commission since 26th, March 1993 under the Military administration of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.

The government is not carrying the Churches along and which is why things are not going normal the way they should be, in a country like Nigeria blessed with all natural resources anybody can think of.

“A Church is a divine institution charged with the mandate of ensuring the peace and spiritual well-being of the society. So, our meeting with the President, I strongly believe that it will curb the challenges.”

The National President, charged the leadership of the Congress in the State not to relent in praying for peace and unity of Anambra, South East region, and the country at large.

“The people of Nigeria, your crying is right. Your complaint of hardship is right. But is the solution found in carrying placards and lining the streets?’’

Nigerian lawmakers in a plenary session on Friday urged citizens not to follow Kenya’s example by taking to the streets.

They also recommended that the State Security Service invite the protest’s “instigators” for a dialogue.

For five weeks, Kenyans protested against a controversial tax hike bill. The demonstrations led to more than 50 deaths and many sustained injuries, prompting President William Ruto to undertake several measures to appease the public, including scrapping the budgets for the offices of the First and Second Lady, dissolving 47 state agencies, and dismissing his ministers.

The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, at a plenary on Friday, said protesting like Kenyans youths did would not solve economic hardship in the country.

‪”The people of Nigeria, your crying is right. Your complaint of hardship is right. But is the solution found in carrying placards and lining the streets? Is the solution found in comparing a country less than us? The reference that has been made to Kenya and the rest of them, they are smaller countries to Nigeria. We are a giant of Africa, we must provide a solution that is better, sustainable and lasting,” Mr Kalu said.

In her contribution, Fatima Talba, representing Manger/Potiskum Federal Constituency, said that the SSS should invite instigators of the planned protest for dialogue.

“I believe there are people instigating this protest. There are people behind this protest. DSS must work hard to find and scout to get those instigating or the leaders of this protest so that we can have dialogue with them. Let’s talk to them. We know the anger is so very much. We have to do something about it,” Ms Talba said.

The House of Representatives session followed mobilisation for nationwide protests scheduled for August in response to the severe economic challenges since President Bola Tinubu took office.

Although economic hardship predated Mr Tinubu’s presidency, his policies, including the removal of the fuel subsidy and the decision to float the naira, had led to petrol price hike from N145 to N710 per litre, and the naira plunged to approximately N1,500 to the dollar.

While economic experts and the International Monetary Fund had praised the measures as courageous reforms, the resultant spike in food prices triggered protests in several states, including Niger, Osun, Ibadan, and Lagos, Tinubu’s home state.

Surveys conducted by the Peoples Gazette showed that food prices had soared by more than 100 per cent nationwide since Mr Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, 2023.

Aside from distribution of trucks of rice to states by the federal government to ameliorate hunger, the minimum wage has been raised to N70,000 since mobilisation for the nationwide protest began.

David0002:
Does it mean that history is hiding a lot of things from us? Thanks and waiting for your reply.

David0002:
I have thought about these things lately, but I couldn't make anything out of it.

David0002:
Op, I am really afraid. I have thought about these things lately, but I couldn't make anything out of it. Does it really mean that the rapture has already taken place?

1 Corinthians 15:51: "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—" (1 Corinthians 15:51, NKJV)

valentineuwakwe:
When you die you meet judgement......either u see jesus or you follow lucifer!

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

vdestro:
Would happen means future.

And we all saw that the sane bible which.told us this prophecy showed that the temple did not fall even after Revelations was written by John.

So, you are still Wrong.

EreluRoz:
So you mean there's no coming of Jesus Christ again? I didn't read all your post sha

vdestro:
You said "leading up to" which means they did not take place then, neither did we see the.temple fall down at that time, so you are wrong.

vdestro:
Is part of His Return not that "ALL MEN WILL SEE HIM COMING FROM THE CLOUDS, THE SAME WAY HE LEFT AND THE WORLD STOP.BECAUSE, ITS JUDGMENT.TIME?

Have these happened?

Did all these visible signs today take place back then?

No, no no!

Then see how the devils blaspheme anytime God moves Closer

"Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"

And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

1. Matthew 10:23: "When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes."

2. Matthew 16:28: "Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom"

John 21:21-22: "When Peter saw him, he asked, 'Lord, what about him?' Jesus answered, 'If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.'"

3. Matthew 24:34: "Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened."

4. Mark 9:1:"And he said to them, 'Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power."

5. 1 Corinthians 16:22: "Come, Lord!"

6. Hebrews 1:2: "But in these last
days he has spoken to us by his Son."

7. Hebrews 10:37: "For, 'In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.'"

8. James 5:8-9: "You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near."

Colossians 1:23: "...if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant."

9. Revelation 1:1: "The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place."

10. Revelation 22:10: "Then he told me, 'Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.'"

11. Revelation 22:20: "He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."