By Sunny A. David, Awka
As Nigerians marks 58th independence anniversary on Monday, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has described religious intolerance as the bane of development in the country.
He said that no religion is more powerful than the other, even as he urged Nigerians to persevere.
“Just look at the killing and maiming of Christians in this country. Parish houses and Churches have been invaded. Catholic Priests have been killed. Properties destroyed. This is sad. Government must put a stop to these incessant killings in this country if they are actually sincere. This is exactly why the country keeps moving backward. We must put an end to these mindless killings,” he said.
The bishop who stated this at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Neni, in Anaocha Local Government Area of while carrying out his pastoral function exhorted Nigerians not to lose hope but to continue to pray for the country, noting that all hope was not lost.
Bishop Ezeokafor said matters of inequalities and marginalisation of some areas of the country were real and should be addressed to assuage various agitations in the country, noting that most Nigerians were not happy.
His words: “As Nigeria marks her 58th independence anniversary, we need to build an egalitarian society devoid of marginalisation, religious fanaticism and inequality.
“At 58, the nation should be united and every section of the country should be given equal representation in the polity; no part of the nation should be an opportunity cost to the other,” The Ecumenical Prelate stated.
He said the issue of restructuring should not be treated with levity, adding that the voice of the people should be harkening to on the matter.
