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Tag: John Onaiyekan

  • In search of the good cardinal

    In search of the good cardinal

    Cardinal John Onaiyekan has taken it upon himself to serve as a critic, a reverend without reverence, and he did it again recently. The problem with some clerics of his ilk is that they wear the toga of piety and belch out folly. He is playing to the gallery for the gullible.

     If he says Nigerians are going through poverty, has he addressed the facts that prices are coming down and he should encourage that pattern rather than holler?

    Has he noted that his own candidate also agreed that we should remove fuel subsidies and marry exchange rate windows?

    Read Also: APC chieftain hails Tinubu’s proactive approach to economic challenges

    Does he, in his hoopla, explain that we were in a quagmire before those policies? Does he explain that the same president has paid off IMF loans, given scholarships to poor students and credit to small business folks? Has he diagnosed the agricultural policies?

    Does he know that the states are flush with money now that even Jigawa has paid off 90 percent of its loans?

    Is he a cleric without context in his thoughts? Men like the good cardinal should follow the contents of scripture about learning, especially the one that says, “for a soul to be without knowledge, it is not good.”

  • If you fix problems in your region, Nigeria’s challenges over, Onayeikan tells northern elites

    If you fix problems in your region, Nigeria’s challenges over, Onayeikan tells northern elites

    The Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja Cardinal John Onayeikan has challenged elites of northern extraction to fix the economic, political and security crisis ravaging the region.

    He maintained that fixing of the challenges facing northern Nigeria “is the panacea to solving the nation’s challenges.”

    Cardinal Onayeikan threw this challenge in Abuja when he hosted the League of Northern Democrats (LND) led by the former Kano Governor Senator Ibrahim Shekarau.

    Commending LND for their initiatives of championing a northern renaissance, Onayeikan tasked the League to inquire why there are too much poverty and insecurity in the northern states when compared with the southern states of Nigeria.

    “I think we must face reality that the way the northern Nigeria is today is not what we can be proud of. All the various indices of good governance and standard of living we have a very poor record. If Nigeria is poor the epicenter of the poor is the north. 

    “And when there is a League of Northern Democrats who are interested in addressing the issues and finding out about why is it that things are not moving as they should, I think things will move because a league of elite northern democrats should be able to engage those who call themselves political leaders especially as some of you have had good experience in government.

    “So you can tell them, listen look around you. Are you proud of what you see? Out of school children all over the place and it is not an excuse to say we are poor because if we continue to about being poor the issue will remain. 

    “We are in a federal government and federal resources are being distributed so what has happened. 

    “Let’s face it, if the North does not move well, Nigeria cannot move well. It’s the same discourse, if Nigeria does move well, Africa cannot move well. There is no room for one section of the country to be lagging behind. What it does mean is that the entire nation should be interested in what you people are doing. If for no other reason but for what they normal call enlightened self interest.”

    The cleric stressed the need for all regions of the country to move together, adding that his doors are open to leaders from other parts of the country who share the same interest of ensuring good governance. 

    He added the country needs many leagues of democrats to improve the quality of governance. 

    ”Your initiatives of coming together to form the League of Northern Democrats for the purpose of trying to re event the north is a welcome development. I support what you are doing.

    ”Go further ask questions because when you re event the north, you are on the sure positive way to re event Nigeria. When you re event Nigeria, Africa would be re even itself,  We are the largest black nation in to world.”, he charged the League of Northern Democrats ”, he stressed 

    Onayekan also tasked the league to endeavour to task the leadership to know why the economy of the northern states are backwards, while calling for harmonious religious relationship between Christians and Muslims in the north.

    Read Also: Onaiyekan laments poor state of nation’s education sector

    He said that a peaceful religious Co habitation between Christians and Muslims is another sure way to build a stable and United northern Nigeria,

    The chairman of the League, Senator Shekarau said their visit to Onayekan was to acquaint him of their plans to re-event the north from poverty, challenges of insecurity by engaging leaders from the zone.

    He said: ”We are an apolitical group who are worried with the level of economic, Security developments in the nineteen northern states. We have members from all political parties. Our mission and goals is to re event the north from it’s present economic situation ”

  • FG to supply implements, aid to IDP bean farmers

    The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development on Tuesday promised to provide farm implements such as hulling machines, threshers, jute bags, and tractors to IDP bean farmers located at Auta Balefi, Karu LGA, Nassarawa State.
    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, said this during an official visit to the IDP bean market in Nassarawa.
    He expressed fascination at the level of development and orderliness of the market, describing it as the largest bean market in Nigeria.
    “Here is a group of people essentially from Borno State who found refuge here and created a industry of their own,” he stated.
    “This is one of the biggest bean markets I have ever seen in Nigeria.
    “This shows that Nigerians have resilience in spite of their challenges, see what they are doing for themselves. This is quite surprising and indicative of what we can do even in adversity.
    “We will send them pre-cleaners and threshers. From next year they will be using jute bags instead of polypropylene bags for the health of Nigerians.
    “Before the next planting season we will send two or three tractors here and also create bigger markets for them and give them all the support they need, including providing civil defense security for the farms and the market.”

    Read Also: Army Donates Relief Materials to IDPs in Delta

    “We will also work with the rural development agencies to ensure that adequate roads are constructed for easy transport between the farms and the market.”
    The Minister also suggested that the beans could also potentially put an end to the violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers across the nation.
    “I have also seen the bean wastes that they are bagging and we will work to give them to the herders so they can feed their livestock and end the clashes between herders and farmers.”
    “As members of food security council, we will buy from these depots for supply to secondary school feeding programs.
    “According to the Central Bank, Nigeria has saved $21 billion in food imports in the last 34 months.
    “This is the evidence that Nigerian farmers are actually working hard and the government is very proud of them.”
    He implored to members of other IDP camps to not wait around grumbling, but rather to follow suit in making strides.
    Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, who was also present at the IDP market, praised the initiative of the displaced persons and encouraged them to continue persevering.
    “In the promotion of good and viable agriculture, you cannot beat what they are doing here. And they organized themselves in terms of marketing and storage and basic processing. They even have different grades of beans.
    “We have been having problems with IDPs as a result of insurgency. These people who have produced these crops are still in IDP camps but they are no longer dependent on anybody.
    “They are taking care of themselves, building their own little houses, sending their children to good schools, and looking forward to returning home when that section of Nigeria is liberated from insurgency.
    “They are not waiting for foreign bodies to feed them when they can feed themselves here in Nigeria and that is commendable.”
  • NSWG partners U.S. for united, peaceful Nigeria

    NSWG partners U.S. for united, peaceful Nigeria

    The Nigeria Senior Working Group ( NSWG ), a group of Nigerian senior civic leaders, have converged on the United States Institute of Peace, Washington, D.C., to rekindle hope for peace and stability in Nigeria.

    The group of eminent Nigerians was in the U.S. for a symposium on Nigeria tagged ‘Peace in Nigeria: How to build it, and America’s role’, organised by the U.S. Institute of Peace, Washington, D.C.

    The group has as members the Archbishop of Catholic Archdiocese Abuja Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Sultan of Sokoto Sa’ad Abubakar, Gen. Martin Agwai (rtd) and Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

    Others are Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Amb. Fatima Abubakar, Dr Nguyan Feese, Dr Chris Kwaja, Dr Usman Bugaje, Dr Jibrin Ibrahim and Aisha Murtala Muhammed-Oyebode.

    The group was brought together by the United States Institute of Peace in 2016 to represent public issues about Nigeria.

    They also lend their expertise in support of the efforts of the State Governors and national policymakers to address the social, religious and political forces that fuel extremist violence and instability in Nigeria.

    Amb. Hassan Hassan, Ambassador/Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, at the symposium, emphasised that Nigeria needed peace now more than any other time in its history.

    The Nigerian envoy also said  that “once there is peace in Nigeria, “it will vibrate across Africa because peace in Nigeria means peace in Africa”.

    Hassan identified the prominent cause of instability and breakdown of peace in Nigeria as religious animosity and rivalry among the adherents of the Christian and Muslim faiths.

    The Nigerian envoy tasked the group to carefully, effectively and incisively consider the issues at stake in Nigeria, extend it to Africa and the world at large.

    Speaking on behalf of the group, Agwai stressed that one of the group’s task was to help the Nigerian government to resolve insecurity, especially the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

    He said that their mandate was to liaise with the U.S. Government through its Think Thank and policy makers to proffer solutions.

    According to him, the group is also mandated to suggest steps Nigeria should take to build and sustain peace as Africa’s most important country.

    Agwai said  the Nigerian government was determined to achieve sustainable peace and development in the country.

    He stressed that there could not be peace without development and there could be no development without peace.

    The outcome of the discussion was to reduce instability and re-weave the social fabrics of the country.

    Amb. Johnnie Carson, the Senior Adviser of United States Institute of Peace, remarked that Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari had made military gains against the Boko Haram extremist group.

    Carson emphasised that conflict resolution, peace and security would not be achievable purely through military solutions alone.

    To achieve sustainable peace in Nigeria, he advised that all levels of government, non-governmental organisations, and other stakeholders must get involved.

    He said every Nigerian  should join to fight to defeat the Boko Haram insurgency, corruption and other security challenges through dialogue, community policing and promotion of good citizen.

    Thomas Shannon, the U.S. Under-Secretary for Political Affairs, praised the various initiatives by the government towards establishing and preserving  peace.

    Shannon said peace was required to foster a prosperous Nigeria and Africa, stressing the U.S. Government will continue to encourage the Nigerian government to take up a call as peace-loving government.

    The U.S. envoy noted that President Buhari had demonstrated that his administration was positioned to strengthen Nigeria’s dignity in the world.

    NAN

  • Duke urges Veritas University graduating students to be change agents

    Duke urges Veritas University graduating students to be change agents

    Mr. Donald Duke, Former Cross River Governor, on Tuesday urged graduating students of Veritas University, Abuja, to always be the change agents that would transform the country.

    Duke said this in Abuja at a Public Lecture to mark the fourth and fifth convocation lecture of the university with the theme: “We the Creatures and the Lord of All Creation”.

    He encouraged the students saying, “arouse yourselves to be the great being that you ought to be, do not trifle this great work of creation by being onlookers”.

    He commended the Catholic Diocese of Nigeria for the tested work in bridging the social divide in the country.

    Duke called on Nigerian leaders to reestablish the society for a better future.

    “It behooves on leaders of the faith to recalibrate the society.

    “If you see what is happening to religion today globally and in Nigeria, there is need for the youth to be agents of change.

    “Globally, there is a competition between the two major religions.

    “God is neither a Christian nor Muslim but religion is a vehicle that takes you to God so leaders must be humble and recognise that God place them in position,” he said.

    Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Catholic Bishop of Abuja, urged the graduating students to resist any temptation that could make them cut corners.

    Onaiyekan called on the students to always do the right thing as means of succeeding in their career.

    Also, Prof. Michael Kwanashie, Vice-Chancellor of the university, urged Nigerians to turn to God in order for the country to move forward.

    Kwanashie said to foster love and unity in the country, Nigerians should recognise God in all things.
    “We need to understand that we will account for our deeds, this country cannot move on if we don’t contribute to the salvation of men and women,” he said.

    He, however, said that the university was willing to contribute to the development of education by subsidising the cost of education.

    He said the university was working toward producing men and women who would produce the change the country needed.

    “What we are doing is to make our students combine academic training with moral, spiritual, cultural and social formation,” he said.

    The vice-chancellor urged the graduating students to be good ambassadors of the institution and the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the university will on March 8 award degrees 180 students out of which six came out with first class honours.

     

  • Economic challenges will increase trafficking in Nigeria – Onaiyekan

    Economic challenges will increase trafficking in Nigeria – Onaiyekan

    The Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, on Tuesday warned the Federal Government that the current economic challenges facing the country would lead to increase in human trafficking if the government fails to steps to address the problems.

    Onaiyekan said this in Abuja at the Caritas conference on human trafficking within and outside Africa.

    According to him, the federal government would have to do more than just convincing the youths to embrace agriculture in order to reduce the level of poverty in the country.

    He said: “It (trafficking) is likely to increase the number of frustrated people who cannot make ends meet. You know by the time you finish university and you are roaming the streets for three, four, five and six years without job and you are becoming 30 or 31 years of age with no future, it is very difficult to sit down quietly.

    “Maybe they (government) are telling people to look for other ways of making a living, go to farm but government will have to do a little bit more to make it possible for young people to go to farm or to do other things. But to just sit down doing nothing and rotting away is a little bit frustrating. That is what I know

    “But like I said, immigration to an unknown destination is not the real answer. People say that it can always be better up there. It is not true. It can be worse over there than what you are facing here. At least here you have no winter you can sleep under the bridge. You cannot sleep under the bridge there. You will die of cold.”

    Onaiyekan called for strict implementation of the law against trafficking in Nigeria in order to reduce it.

  • Buhari, catholic bishops meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari, catholic bishops meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday night met behind closed doors with some Roman Catholic bishops at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting, which started at about 9:00pm was held at the First Lady Conference Room.

    Although agenda of the meeting was not disclosed, it may not be unconnected with the escalating herdsmen’ attacks and other challenges facing the country.

    About 16 bishops were in attendance when the meeting started.

    Among the bishops at the meeting are – Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama; Archbishop of Abuja, John Onaiyekan and the Bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto, Hassan Mathew Kukah.

    The meeting was also attended by other top government officials.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Onaiyekan lauds FG for reclaiming territories from Boko Haram

    The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, has commended the Federal Government for its efforts at ensuring that the military reclaim territories formerly controlled by Boko Haram.

    Onaiyekan, who  he spoke at  a cocktail  for the Diplomatic Community in Abuja said, ” I think we should congratulate the government because Boko Haram no longer control large territories of our country but all the credit will not go to the President Muhammadu Buhari. It started from the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    “What is left is to find a way of bringing reconciliation and peace in the affected area. There are many people who have been injured, angry apart from the fact that Boko Haram had done a lot of distraction in their life.

    “We have to work on that seriously for this to happen. We need a whole lot of good will and patient.”

    He also said there was nothing wrong with the December deadline issued by President Buhari to end the menace of Boko Haram.

    “People always set targets.  If you are not lucky, you will get there and if you are not lucky you may not get there.

    “Insurgency does not end easily, what I can say is that they have managed to ensure that Boko Haram is no longer a structured and organize fighting force.”

  • Onaiyekan to Buhari: Tread softly on corruption probe

    Onaiyekan to Buhari: Tread softly on corruption probe

    The Catholic Arch-Bishop of Abuja, Cardinal John  Onaiyekan, on Tuesday night advised President Muhammadu Buhari to go slowly on his anti-corruption drive so that his actions are not seen as “persecution.”

    He gave the advise during an evening dinner organized for Catholics in Politics at the Church of the Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja.

    Pointing out that fighting corruption goes beyond making “few arrests here and there” he urged President Buhari to carry out his anti-corruption fight in a way that will not be seen as selective.

    He also said that fight against corruption can only succeed where there is transparency, just and honesty.

    He said: “This challenge obviously lies squarely on those who now have the power to rule our nation. I want to beg them, and I am glad the Chairman of the ruling party is here, to resist the temptation to rub in the plaques of defeat on the losers and try to avoid policies of persecution, some even talk of execution of losers.”

    “We have to tackle dishonesty and I believe we need to retrieve stolen goods, especially those that are just piling up other peoples money. While we do that, it is my strong feeling that we should try to avoid as much as possible humiliating or disgracing people who may indeed have tried their best to serve the nation.

    “How to do this and keep these two elements together requires a lot of sagacity and clear mindedness. But we should pray for our leaders to be granted the grace.

    “We must be clear minded on this matter and not allow ourselves to be naïve thinking that it is just enough to make few arrests here and there and the matter is settled. Let us pray that God will guide our nation.”

    On insecurity, he said that Nigeria needs to go beyond arms and ammunitions in order to reconcile minds and hearts for genuine peace.

    The time, he said, has come for all to link hands and seriously tackle the problems facing the country.

  • Mark, Onayiekan caution politicians on 2015 elections

    … Say, ‘Subject yourselves to people’s will’

    Senate President, David Mark and Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onayiekan, have advised politicians to allow the wishes of the people to prevail ahead of the 2015 general election.

    Mark and Cardinal Onayiejan cautioned politicians not over heat the polity on account of their desperation to get elected because only the mandate of the people would be sustainable.

    Both leaders, according to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja, spoke at the 2014 Christmas Carol organized by St. Mulumba Chaplaincy, Apo, Abuja on Wednesday night.

    According to them, “violence, intimidation or rancour should not be part of our politics. People should be freely allowed to make their choices without manipulation.”
    Mark, however, insisted that irrespective of political differences, all Nigerians agreed that election can only take place in an atmosphere of peace.

    “Therefore, we must all work for peace and unity of our country. We can only realize our individual ambitions if Nigeria exists in an atmosphere of peace,” Mark stated.
    He also enjoined politicians to make peace and peaceful coexistence the focal point of their campaigns.

    Cardinal Onayiekan on his part, stressed that violence and rancour would cease to be part of our politics if our politicians play by the rules and allow the people to decide adding, “we should not let hell lose if people refuses to elect us. It is their right to chose who should rule or govern them.”