The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan,
has said in spite of the series of meetings and engagements with relevant
stakeholders, the Acting President – Yemi Osinbajo lacked the magic to stop the
current Biafra agitation and other tension in the country.
Onaiyekan stated this at a Mass to mark the Centenary of the
Late Eminence, Ignatius Cardinal Ekandem, the first Episcopal Archbishop of
Abuja Catholic Metropolitan in Abuja.
He further maintained that the unity of Nigeria was not in
the capacity of any political, traditional or religious leaders to determine
but the people of Nigeria.
The cleric urged the people to shun those who were beating
the drum of disintegration and chaos, saying they always run abroad to hide
when the thing go out of hands.
Onaiyekan admonished the federal government to refrain from
gagging or preventing people from protesting against bad governance, as they
had the right to voice out whenever they were shortchanged by their leaders.
He said the presidency could only calm nerves, adding that
only Nigerians could refuse to be used to cause havoc.
The Archbishop said: “the Acting President is not God and he
has not gotten the magic to stop all agitations.
“He can of course take position; make statement that will
calm nerves and encourage those who are working for peace and tranquility.
“I think he is making effort in that direction, but it
depends on all Nigerians. The point I have always made is that it is the
ordinary Nigerian who will decide whether we should live together or not.
“The people on top when they start playing their game sometimes
they even forget the people on the ground.
“We on the ground too, we should remember that when the
thing gets hot, there are certain people up there who always find a way out.
They pack their family on board, fly abroad and leave the poor people on the
ground to suffer. We better think that seriously and not allow anybody to push
us into a situation, where there is chaos”.
“People are angry and when they are angry, they have the
right to say so. Therefore, I don’t think government can stop people from
making pronouncement explaining what is annoying them, but in doing that, one
should count the consequence of what one says. We have the freedom of speech
but cannot say everything. So, let us live together in peace and be patience,”
he said.
It could be recalled that Onaiyekan had earlier said that
expressions of anger and dissatisfaction would continue in the country, because
the federal character principle leads to injustice and marginalization.
By Chijioke Jannah
