From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, Abuja
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday blamed the behaviour of some Nigerians and some of the vices they engage in on the current challenges facing the country, urging religious groups to play more critical role in moulding the character of their followers. The president stated this at the Mass put together by the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, to celebrate the 30th Episcopal ordination and celebration of the elevation of John Cardinal Onaiyekan to the status of Cardinal by Pope Benedict XV1. He called on Nigerians to eschew violence and embrace dialogue as a means of settling disputes.
“The Church, the government and the political actors have the same responsibilities and we believe that the Church is at the centre of society building. “Some of the challenges we face today are because of the character our people have. If the Church moulds the people especially starting from the children, Nigeria will be a better place.
“For us, we believe that the church is at the centre of societal building, because, some of the challenges that we face today is because of the kind of character that our people have. If the church can mould characters properly, especially starting from childhood, Nigeria will surely be a better place,” he said. Jonathan who was accompanied by his mother, some cabinet ministers and his aides, also noted that none of the two religions preaches violence, adding that their foundations were rooted in love and peaceful co-existence. “We all know that no religion preaches or encourages violence and hate. Both the two major religions preach love and peaceful co-existence.
This is of course their foundation.” The President appealed to Christians to continue to explore peaceful means of resolve conflicts. Jonathan while re-echoing Onaiyekan who spoke earlier, said. “As His Grace said that he cannot worship the gods that kill the people he himself created. We also believe that anyone who raises weapon to kill anyone created by God cannot be worshipping God. I totally agree with his Lordship”.
He commended Pope Benedict XVI for honouring Nigeria by elevating Onaiyekan to the status of Cardinal and also commended the Head of the Roman Catholic Church for helping to promote inter-religious harmony in Nigeria as well as reconciliation amongst all religious groups in the country. “I believe that his elevation is an evidence of the Vatican’s continued recognition of the immense contributions of the Church in Nigeria to the worldwide Catholic movement.”
The President added, “It is not the Catholic church in Nigeria alone, but the entire world that is celebrating with him.” He described Onaiyekan as a humble man with a great vision and learning who had fully dedicated himself to the service of God. “I see in his appointment, a recognition for those who work and toil for peace like him and for reconciliation amongst men. I also see it as a great privilege for our country.” Jonathan also charged the political class especially the political parties to live up to their responsibilities.
“When John Cardinal Onaiyeken was making reference to the goodwill messages he received from certain individuals, the ANPP, Chairman of PDP, as he mentioned the different group of people, I was quite happy. That goes to show that the church, the government, the political actors are the same and have the same responsibility.” He described Onaiyekan’s meteoric rise to his current position as a “prince of the Roman Catholic Church” as a significant achievement worthy of emulation.
He however, noted that the elevation had placed extra responsibilities on him for more service to humanity. Cardinal Onaiyekan in his message noted that of the 14 of them who were Ordained Bishop in 1983, two were from Nigeria himself and Bishop Kelvin Aje, now retired Bishop of Sokoto. The story of the Epiphany, he said heralded the annual event in the Catholic Church to celebrate the commemoration of the visit of the three wise men from the East at the birth of Jesus.
Onaiyekan condemned killing in the name of religion and warned that Nigeria was fast attracting the negative image of a nation of religious violence He recalled the response of King Harold to the birth of Jesus Christ when he ordered the killing of innocent children and urged Nigerians to pray that their “names may be remembered for good things and not like that of King Harold who ordered the killing of children and Pontious Pilate who ordered the killing of Jesus.”
He also urged Nigerians to understand the inclusiveness of God’s grace to all mankind and the readiness to welcome others to that practical reality, saying that “any God that promotes the killing of innocent people should not be worthy of our worship” Kogi State Deputy Governor, Yomi Awoniyi who noted that it “is amazing how Onaiyekan rose to his current position despite his difficult background,” brought a special message of goodwill He declared that Onaiyekan had by his singular achievements became a role model to the people of Nigeria.
Former Head of State General Mohammadu Buhari also sent his message of goodwill and apologised for his inability to make the event. Senate President David Mark, who spoke on security, noted that the churches in Nigeria were confronted with peculiar challenges including that of insecurity. Some notable dignitaries who attended the mass were Senate Leader Victor Edoma -Egba, Police Affairs Ministers, Caleb Olubolade Others included Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, FCT Minister, Olajumoke Akinjide, President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Abuja, Justice Moses Abubakar.
The Onaiyekan family also attended the mass and a Special choir group from Kaba, Onaiyekan’s hometown. Others include, representative of the Sultan of Sokoto, Niger State Governor, Bishop of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama, President of the Catholic Bishop Conference. Members of the Nigerian Inter religious Council, Victor Attah former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Primate of the Anglican Church, Nicolas Okoh, Onaiyekan who was born on January 29, 1944 and was ordained a Priest of the Catholic Church at Kaba on August 3, 1969, was Ordained Bishop on January 6, 1983, by Pope John Paul.
The main theme was taken from the Book of Isaiah 60:1-6, “the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” while the main message of the day was taken from the Book of Matthew 2: 1-12.
All these ministers, govs & senetors, are they d only pple dat attended d church? Because u shower praises on them, d pple dat are killing d country, every body want to be like them to recieve his or her own praise.
Buck passing. This is a reply to what happened at the burial of Azazi. Pound of flesh tactics by the President. One fact remains that we have leadership problem in Nigeria. GEJ should please accept that verdict.
A timid and cunning president who tries 2 satisfy his fellow leaders alone.
Congratulations to our cardinal. I like the president’s coment,’ no religion preches violence and those killing re not worshing God’. Excellent talk. Carry go presido.
Mr president fix power & roads for us ,I don’t think the church are in the position to do that
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Let the President declare his assets. Or was he taught to be dishonest in his own church?
Congrats
He is right, many youths in Nigeria are not ready to start small. under graduate using a phone of 100,000 not bought by the parents.
Well! Well!! Well!!!, Look who is talking?
This man for the starters has failed to lead by example. Records of crime and corruption enforcement under your watch is abysmal. It you, barely a month after you were sworn in as Bayelsa state governor after DSP was sent to prison, your wife or some or a female family members of hers was caught at the airport with fifty thousand US dollars. It may the headlines both in nigeria and in international forums. Ribadu was threatening the Jonathans with prosecution, but that allegation has been since denied that it ever happened. As of January 2013 you still refused to declare your assets as required by law. I wonder why.?
Mr president, why are you blaming some Nigerians for the challenges of your administration ?
I wonder if the brain of our President is right. Mr. President must have his brain check, b/cos he is sick and mental
Mr. Pesident you are blaming the masses for the series of problems in the country due to your inability to lead by example because you failed to do the right thing as soon as you found yourself in Aso Rock, you forgot your backgruond and were you come from including those that voted you to power. You may or may not know that Nigeria recorded the highest crime wave, killings here and there of innocent souls and corruption at the highest order during this your tenure. The reason is not far fetched simple because you have no focus and can’t bite as a President of a Nation, above all, you abandoned the fingers that fed you. Why wouldn’t there be crime and corruption all over when you and your so called political appointees are all criminals and body sees wrong thing as bad. innocent people are murdered in the worshipping house of God, youth corpers are killed in hundreds, people are paid for the invoice of OIL not supplied, some senators were implicated with facts and figures as Boko Haram sponsors, some boko haram members were let go from the police custody, all these above mentioned, no stiff measure was taken to minimize the situation yet we have a president and commander in chief of Army forces in place. Nobody is asking you to become Michale Tasin before action could be taking, no, a strong word from the President is a enough to send a signal to the troble makers. People are in the Northern zone killing fellow human beings as chicken, no arrest, but Mossob members who are demanding for their rightful place in Nigeria are been arrested daily without the president saying anything. How would there be peace when everybody is singing the same song and no one want to say no to the wrong thing being melted to the people of southeast zone, injustice, tribalism, hatred, marginalization etc become the order of the day yet youwant peace, how can? God doesn’t dwell were there is no LOVE.
MR. PRESIDENT IS A COWARD PRAISING HIS FELLOW FOOLS AND THIEVIES. WE ARE A DOLL REPRESENTING THE MASSES. ITS A PITY WE BARGAINED FOR A FRESH AIR AND WE ARE GETTING POLLUTED AIR FROM OUR OWN PERSON. PSYCOPHANT! ONE DAY YOU WILL LEAVE ASO ROCK, PURE.
MR. PRESIDENT IS A COWARD PRAISING HIS FELLOW FOOLS AND THIEVIES. U ARE A DOLL REPRESENTING THE MASSES. ITS A PITY WE BARGAINED FOR A FRESH AIR AND WE ARE GETTING POLLUTED AIR FROM OUR OWN PERSON. PSYCOPHANT! ONE DAY YOU WILL LEAVE ASO ROCK, PURE.
Mr President should honourably leave for Otueke in 2015 because he has failed the masses that voted him into power in 2011.
Mr President is right. The blame for our current mess should go to Nigerians who voted him. Carry go broda Jonah!
Zik in his wisdom gave UNN d slogan “restore the dignity of man”. Gorvanance earlier lost its dignity. GEJ as God fearing leader,rescue gorvanance in nigeria. I pledge my support.