By Kemi Yesufu
The Northern States Pentecostal Bishop’s Forum of Nigeria (TNSPBFN) has condemned violent attacks across the country, especially those carried out in the North-Central Zone leaving scores dead.
Chairman of the Forum, Archbishop John Praise- Daniel on Monday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put a halt to the killings and destruction that has dominated the news in recent months or face the “electoral consequences” of not bringing those behind the attacks to book.
He said: “ The spate of deadly attacks by armed herdsmen in the various communities nationwide, particularly, the North Central geo-political zone, resulting in massive loss of lives and properties, need to be decisively dealt with by government, in line with its constitutional responsibility, which must not be abdicated.
“Mindless attacks on places of worship and killing of defenseless Christians in Nigeria are unacceptable and must stop forthwith, as there will be dire electoral consequences for the disturbing silence and inaction by this administration. Indeed, the ugly development portends grave danger for our national unity, food production capabilities and overall development”.
Speaking at a press briefing on the state of the nation ahead of the 2018 Democracy Day celebration, Daniel, the Archbishop of Dominion Chapel International Churches Abuja, wondered how persons who are displaced, some still coming to terms with the death of loved ones would re-elect a president, they feel hasn’t dealt decisively with persons behind the attacks that left them bereaved and homeless.
“If people are displaced from their places and they become IDPs, how are we sure they are going to vote, because they have been displaced from their ancestral homes where they have been. So even if they are going to vote some of them will vote under tension, and they may vote angrily, because they will feel that their plight and what they are going through was not given consideration, so definitely there will be electoral consequences.
“And some will vote in protest, because of the pains they have been made to go through, so I think if this government wants a re- election, they need to sort the matters on ground.
“ People are not happy, especially those that have been displaced through the chaos, killings, and the killings are not abated and affecting the country. For their good they should do what is right”, he said.
Daniel, who was flanked by 14 other Bishops in from the North decried what his Forum said was the failure of successive governments, since the return of democracy build a prosperous and united country. The Bishops particularly scored the Buhari administration low in this regard.
“At no time is it more evident than the current dispensation in which nepotism, abuse of power and flagrant disregard for the rule of law have been elevated to a higher pedestal.
“Indeed our gradual descent to the Hobbesian State of Nature, where might is right and the violation of human rights becomes the norm, rather than the exception thereby rendering life, ‘nasty, brutish and short’, elicits great concerns and calls for urgent action”, he opined.
On the issue of Leah Sharibu, the only Dapchi school girl still in Boko Haram captivity, the bishops urged the Federal Government to expedite action towards her safe return home.
“We know efforts are being made for her (Leah’s) rescue. But these efforts will not be complete until she is rescued. Despite all the things that are being put in, we will only be satisfied when she is rescued”, Daniel said.
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