The Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama has said Nigeria has become a country that was “traumatised,” trapped in a system ruled by “sacred cows,” and standing at a dangerous crossroads of faith, justice, and national unity.
Delivering his homily on Sunday at St. Luke’s Catholic Parish, Kubwa, during the celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King, Kaigama warned that the country has drifted into deep moral and social decay despite its reputation as a highly religious nation.
Kaigama who lamented that Nigeria had strayed far from the values of justice and truth required to build a peaceful society, regretted that although Nigerians bow, clap and call on God loudly in worship, many behave “as if He does not exist in our homes and places of work outside of our places of worship.”
According to him, Nigeria’s biggest setback was its tolerance for impunity and its refusal to hold powerful individuals accountable, adding that the law only catches the poor while the wealthy and politically connected were shielded.
He said: “It is time to ask, who are the mysterious persons who violate the sanctity of the lives of Nigerians and the space we call Nigeria, and have gotten away freely all the time? We should be forced by all this, to do an objective national reflection.
“Since 1960 to date, we have allowed tribal and religious sentiments to rule our politics, and even the distribution of power and wealth of the nation.
“Sacred cows have been bred that some people from certain ethnic or religious groups are untouchables. Have you seen a past leader, whether civilian or military, ever being prosecuted? That you were once a leader, or presently a leader, does not mean you are beyond prosecution.
“In Nigeria, we talk more of persecution and hardly of prosecution. Whether it is in the Churches and Mosques, the Judiciary, the National Assembly, the Presidency, or within the security agencies, the highest bidder seems to be the most respected. The law catches only the feeble.
“Those with access to power or financial means, those who own large profits of the oil we have; those who bulldoze their way into power by hook or by crook, do so hysterically because it provides them with unfettered access to amass wealth beyond what they need in their lifetime or those of their children and grand/great grandchildren.
“Governments after Governments ignore calling such people to book. Agencies set up to prosecute corruption are said to end up trapped in the complex webs of corruption that you can hardly recognize them.”
The cleric lamented that Nigeria once known as the happiest in the world has become “the saddest nation in the world, considering all that has happened since the kidnapping of young, innocent Chibok girls.”
Kaigama said Nigerians have become so traumatised by poor governance that they no longer demand accountability, even as ethnic and religious sentiments have made it nearly impossible to hold leaders accountable as whenever anyone was questioned, “their associations, chiefs, and youths will fight for their man or woman, even if they know he or she is not innocent.
“We seem to be so traumatized by how badly we are treated that we hardly ask tough questions. We are too polite and gentle to those who glaringly rob the people of their patrimony. Shall we ever go beyond these myopic sentiments?
The Cleric contrasted Nigeria with countries like South Korea, France, Israel, South Africa, Peru, Brazil, and others where sitting and former leaders were prosecuted, saying such justice is unthinkable in Nigeria saying, “Try that in Nigeria with even a former local government chairman, or any highly positioned leader, and you will experience armageddon.”
The Archbishop warned that Nigerians have turned political leaders, money, pleasure, technology, and self into modern idols, “In today’s society, we no longer build new statues, but we worship idols,” adding that the nation’s religiosity was often superficial.
The Archbishop lamented recent killings and kidnappings across the country, including the abduction of 315 students in Niger State, the killing of worshippers in Kwara State, the murder of a serving General, and the killing of a priest’s brother by terrorists.
He urged leaders in politics, religion, security, and public service to govern with integrity, fairness, and compassion as he prayed that “God will bring back safely to their families those kidnapped and grant eternal rest to the dead.”
Kaigama questioned the status of the help previously announced by the United States saying, “How soon and when will this help come? In what ways? Will bombs, guns, and drones be more effective than uprooting the root causes of why Nigeria refuses to function for the good of all her citizens?
He challenged America to use its intelligence capabilities to reveal those undermining Nigeria as he asked “Could America help us to discover those who have monopolized our patrimony? Where are they keeping their humongous treasure? Who supplies the weapons and logistics to criminals? Who comes in helicopters for our valuable minerals? Who are those who monopolized or still monopolize the wealth of this country through illegal means and keep wealth here and abroad, that they don’t need, while the poor agonize in inexplicable poverty?
Kaigama urged Nigerians to abandon hatred, corruption, violence, greed, and the culture of impunity, insisting that true worship must reflect in justice, compassion, and integrity in leadership.
