The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Revd.Ignatius Kaigama has frowned at the recent attack on banks by angry protesters over scarcity of the new Naira notes across the country.
The Archbishop made this known on Sunday during his homily at St.Augustine’s Parish, Dutse- Sangbagyi, Abuja.
Kaigama said, “The recent bank policy has plunged many Nigerians into untold hardship, because of very limited access to physical cash.
“However, when we are not comfortable with certain decisions, we should react in an enlightened manner.
“The unruly acts of rioting in some parts of the nation that attacked bank ATMs, beat up some bank staff, vandalized banks and destroyed bank properties, blocked streets, forcing businesses to close, etc., are not signs of maturity.
The Archbishop called on the Independent National Electoral Commission( INEC) security agencies and the judiciary not to bow to pressure from any quarter.
He said,”Nigerians must play their role in creating a better Nigeria by participating in the elections in six days time. This time we want an election of credible and competent candidate and not an election marred by manipulation or violence that scares away voters.
“Our earnest prayer is that the INEC, the security agents and the judiciary will not bow to pressure from any quarters and compromise their work so that only true winners in the elections who as Philippians 4:8 says, are honourable, just, pure, lovely, can emerge and free Nigerians from the bondage of economic hardship, criminality and needless division based on tribe and religion,” he said.
His Grace stated that ,”communique given at the just concluded first plenary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria can be summarized as a call to Government leaders to love the people they lead through good governance.
“The Bishops decried the worsening insecurity caused by so-called unknown gunmen, and so urged the government to do more to safeguard the lives and property of citizens; to improve the economy of the nation as the high cost of goods and services continues to skyrocket,” he said .
In his homily the Most Reverend said, in our first reading today God urged the Israelites to prefer love over hatred for neighbour, fraternal correction of one another and forgiveness instead of retaliation.
“Similarly, in the text of the Gospel today, Jesus asks us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. He extends the Levitical law of love for neighboursand friends, mandating us to love our enemies too and pray for them.
“By loving our enemies, we also become like Jesus who loved us when we were still sinners and enemies of God (cf. Rm. 5:10). He so loved us that He gave Himself up for us (cf. Gal. 2:20). Today, Jesus calls us to love those who ordinarily do not merit our friendship due to the depth of hurt they have caused us and the harm they have done to us,” he said.
