The Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese, Peter Chukwu, has said those poised to destroy the country are using President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to achieve their aim.
Chukwu spoke in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, while addressing reporters after inaugurating the diocesan chapter of Catholic Media Practitioners’ Association.
The bishop noted that President Buhari’s appointment of most of the service chiefs from the North had worsened the nation’s security situation.
He said as a result of what he called some lopsided appointments, Nigerians have lost confidence in the current Federal Government’s ability to secure the country.
Chukwu warned that the continued existence of the country is at risk, if next year’s election fails to usher in credible leaders who will tackle the security challenges and other issues facing the country.
He said: “When Buhari was campaigning for the presidency, he was coming with his credentials as a former military leader who was an anti-corruption crusader; who did not tolerate any corruption or such nonsense. And he promised to nip in the bud all cases of Boko Haram attacks.
“Unfortunately, when he took power, he became a victim of the people who want to Islamise Nigeria by force, and they are using him to accomplish that project.
“That is why the government is helpless to combat the problem. If you look closely, you will see that all the leaders of our security apparatus are from the core North. It has never been like that in the history of Nigeria.
“There was a balance in appointments, a reflection of federal character in the appointment of the leaders of the security outfits.
“But now, it is so lopsided that they will always execute their agenda without any much opposition. And come to think of it again, a lot of people have lost their voice. This is because if you say anything, they will come after you.
“In spite of this, people who are rational are very uncomfortable with what is going on. So, it is very unfortunate.
“Appeals have not helped in this government. We have lost faith in the current government to restore security.
“What we are praying for are peaceful, free and fair elections that will usher in God-chosen leaders who will solve the problems of this country. If that problem is not solved, the continued existence of Nigeria as a corporate entity is under a very serious question mark.”
Chukwu urged the media to make parties’ candidates to explain their plans to solve the nation’s problems.
“We are approaching the general elections. Hold candidates to task; charge them to present their manifestoes to our people; ask what they wish to accomplish, if they are elected into office, and take them to task, if they are bringing some pretentious claims in their past records so that our people will be able to examine these potential leaders as they make up their minds,” he said.
The cleric expressed worry over the incessant attacks, kidnappings and killings in the church and its priests.
He noted that such incidents would not deter Christians from speaking out against the atrocities in the country.
“I am very worried that priests have become targets of kidnappers and killers. Sometimes, they kidnap and end up killing our priests. We have lost so many priests in the North, in the Middle Belt and even in the Southeast. It is very worrisome.
“But I am not surprised because priests and prophets have always been victims of persecution in the church’s history,” Chukwu said.