Persisting Insecurity Fueling Hunger, Poverty, Says Kaigama

Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama has lamented the destructive impact of insecurity in the country, saying it was dragging more people into penury and degrading poverty.

In his New Year message to Nigerians released yesterday, Kaigama said the period of transition offered opportunity for a sincere reflection on the outgoing year and to express gratitude for graces well used and for times well spent.

Speaking on the challenges facing the country, Kaigama said despite efforts at addressing insecurity, the problem had continued unabated leading to rising hunger and poverty.

“The ever worsening security situation kept people away from the farms and now famine stares us in the face.

This is largely responsible for why even staple foods have now gone beyond the reach of average families.

“If we are ever going to get a handle on the deadly orgy of violent crime, this must be mitigated and very quickly. Political leaders across the board must do more than merely repeating their intention to lift the populace out of poverty,” he said.

Kaigama expressed concern that the challenge of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and ethnic separatist agitations presented a perfect scene tilting the nation towards a disastrous end of apocalyptic proportions, adding that government, “has failed to arrest the further decent of more of our people into penury and degrading poverty”.

According to the Bishop, Nigeria had wobbled along, deeply divided but still remained one country.

“Although we are still a long way from that perfect harmony built on justice and equity, we still have God to thank for saving us from a catastrophe that seemed so inevitable only months ago.

“Furthermore, on the part of governance, there seems to have been a fledgling effort to build and renovate critical infrastructure at both the federal and state levels. While we know that a lot still needs to be done, realising how vital this can be to our development as a nation, we need to appreciate the very little achieved so far and encourage our leaders to do more.

“However, our greatest asset remains our people. While building much needed infrastructure, the people must never be forgotten. Their hope must be sustained to live into that better future.

“We are all in grave danger should more and more young people take to rebellion by embracing violence as the only way to be noticed as we are already witnessing,” he said.

In order to stem the tide of ethnic and religious separatist agitations, Kaigama advised leaders to choose the path of sincere dialogue.

He also urged those who are surreptitiously fanning the embers of discord and division for political gain to stop such acts.

“This is the only credible way to prove to their followers that they are honestly committed to a united and indivisible Nigeria built on justice and equity to all.

“Our desire for justice is no doubt honourable, but in the name of justice, how often is violence committed which leads to injustices far worse than the ones we set out to redress! “Those who are tempted to choose crime and violence as the only way to draw attention to their plight must rethink. We must first have a country before thinking of our wellbeing,” Kaigama added.

As the Covid-19 rages on and with new worrying mutations of the virus, the bishop said government must ensure that no one was left behind in its plans to find a workable solution that saves lives.

“As it is becoming increasingly clear that vaccines might be the life saver, government must make resources available to ensure that everyone is given the chance to receive vaccine.

“All however must be willing to cooperate with government, take responsibility to protect the lives of all. For as the saying now goes “until everyone is safe, no one is safe,” he said.