Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to foster religious unity among Nigerians.
He reminded the President that such a measure would give all Nigerians a sense of belonging, regardless of religious, political, ethnic, or other distinctions, so he might gain public support.
He criticised recent comments by a politician (name withheld) that implied Nigerians of a particular faith are better than other Nigerians and are determined to keep “outsiders” and “inferiors” under control.
He challenged the President to promote religious peace and harmony among Nigerians through his deeds, “body language,” and comments.
In his Sunday Homily at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Sun City, Abuja, Archbishop Kaigama urged Christians to avoid such divisive agenda and instead express love, goodwill, and tolerance with Nigerians regardless of religious, political, ethnic, or other differences.
“These were part of our worries when the then Presidential candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, met a group of Catholic Bishops during our conference in Abuja, few days to the presidential elections,” he said. Our message to him detailed numerous hurtful concerns.
“As President, he must tame paranoid Nigerians who preach discord and animosity. He pledged that he should be fair and just to all religious groups and their followers to improve religious harmony.
He urged Nigerians to learn to live under one canopy of love, sacrificing selfish ambitions for the common good, insisting that uncontrolled venomous utterances will certainly create unnecessary tension among Nigerians of all faiths who want to live peacefully together, each pursuing their legitimate concerns.
Archbishop Kaigama urged the government to protect Nigerians, particularly Catholic priests, who promote peace, unity, equity, the dignity of life, etc.
We live in a time of unnecessary deaths, growing evil, and hatred. Rev. Fr. Charles Onomhaele Igechi, of the Archdiocese of Benin City, was brutally murdered.
He thanked St. Augustine’s Parish, Sun City’s Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Marcel Livinus, his Assistant, Rev. Fr. Cephas Asom, his team, and all the parishioners for their devotion and support.
