AFRICA : NIGERIA : BISHOP CALLS FOR PRAYERS IN CRISES

Cisa News
CISA REPORT: SOKOTO, January 17, 2012 (CISA) –The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassah Kukah has called on Nigerian religious leaders to unite amidst the crises facing the country by offering leadership that promotes common good rather than focusing on the insignificant division issues.
The bishop in his statement titled: Be still and know that I am God (Ps 46:10) sent to CISA said, “We live in a state of ineffective law enforcement and tragic social conditions.”
“Corruption has destroyed the fabric of our society. Its corrosive effect can be seen in the ruination of our lives and the decay in our society. The inability of the state to punish criminals has created the illusion that there is a conflict between Christians and Muslims,” said the bishop.
Bishop Kukah said, “In fact, it would seem that many elements today are going to great extremes to pitch Christians against Muslims, and vice versa, so that our attention is taken away from the true source of our woes: corruption.”
He called on all Nigerians to stand together to ensure that their resources are well utilized for the common good adding, “despite the hardships we must endure as a result of the strike, the fuel subsidy debate must be seen as the real dividend of democracy.”
Bishop Kukah strongly condemned the tendency by some religious leaders to play politics with the issues of “collective survival.”
“Rather than rallying our people, some of our religious leaders have resorted to divisive utterances, wild allegations and insinuations against fellow adherents of other religions,” said the bishop.
Bishop Kukah said that the country is not faced with a crisis or conflict between Christians and Muslims. He called for restraint on the part of the religious leaders.
He appealed for prayers, solidarity of people of all faith during the hard times and said a more united and peaceful Nigeria is possible.
The cleric also urged the government to strive to earn the trust of the people in order to build a better stronger nation.
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