The Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Most Reverend Peter
Odetoyinbo, who led Catholic faithful in Abeokuta Diocese as they trooped out
in their thousands on Tuesday to protest the killing of two Catholic priests
and about 17 parishioners by herdsmen in Benue state and insecurity in the
country, has declared that President Muhammadu Buhari has failed in his
responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of the nation.
The placard-carrying protesters who converged at St. Anne Catholic
Church, Ibara, Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital to observed a mass rally around
Abeokuta metropolis, called on the Federal Government to stop the incessant
killings in the country.
The protesters stormed the streets of Abeokuta with various
placards such as: “President Buhari stop this killings or resign, “Human live
is Sacred, “Killing is a sin, “Have we lost our human value, “We want Peace in
Nigeria ” among others.
Speaking with Journalists
shortly after the protest, the Catholic Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese, Most Rev.
Peter Odetoyinbo stated that, the protest was organized to commiserate with
families of the deceased priests killed during the Benue attack.
Bishop Odetoyinbo also called
on President Muhammadu Buhari to put an end to the killings, added that as the
Chief Security Officer of the country, he must ensure the safety of all
Nigerians irrespective of religion and ethnic background.
According to him, “the President should stop the killings of
Nigerians by the herdsmen as the father of the nation. If the father of the
house cannot protect his children, he should leave the house.”
Bishop Odetoyinbo explained that “We are here to protest the
killings and insecurity in the country; more importantly to mourn the killing
of two of our priests and 17 parishioners in Makurdi Diocese of Benue State as
they are being buried today in solidarity with Catholic faithfuls all over
Nigeria.
“All we are saying with this protest is that the federal
government should save us and stop this killings. Human lives are very sacred
whether you are a Muslim or Christians; it doesn’t really matter.
“We need peace in the country, the President is our father and the
head of the house and should therefore live up to the expectations of ensuring
that everybody is safe in the country, this is our message with this peaceful
protest.
He explained that Buhari should resign his position as a President
because he cannot protect and guarantee the security lives and property of all
Nigerians.
“Its high time we say no to this illegal killing of innocent
Christians who are worshipping their God in Nigeria.
“Enough is enough! The
Catholic Church in Nigeria is saying, ‘Enough is enough’ for illegal killing of
faithful and loyalists in Nigeria”.
He advised the President to
face his official duty of protecting Nigerians and their property rather than fighting
corruption all over. When Nigerians were panicking over Fulani herdsmen, Boko
Haram and cultists.
While saying that the country
is seriously sick, Bishop Odetoyinbo charged Nigerians to “call on God to
intervene in our plights,” adding that Nigerians should continue loving one
another and ensured evils doesn’t grow in the nation.
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