Former Catholic archbishop of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, has warned that Nigeria risks being overrun by bandits if the country continues to dialogue with them.
The cleric warned that there is “a large gang of criminals that are almost taking over our country” as a result of the government’s failure to address insecurity.
Recall that an Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi, has met with bandits many times of recent ostensibly at the behest of some state governors.
However, Onaiyekan who spoke after an ordination ceremony in Minna, Niger State capital, on Saturday, warned that the government would soon be overpowered if it did not take prompt action against banditry.
“We should not be living in a country where you are always with your heart in your mouth when you are moving from one place to another; where children cannot study in peace in their schools and where bandits — whatever you call them — come from nowhere and cart away 20, 30 children and their teachers into the bush and sit somewhere and boast, calling for dialogue.
“And even government agencies talking about reaching out. It is not the right thing to do. It is about time we have a government that takes care of its people.
“This is nothing political; it has nothing to do with PDP, APC, and it has nothing to do with Islam or Christianity. Not even with our tribal differences. We have a large gang of criminals that are almost taking over our country. The government should either do it or allow others to do it.
“If the government cannot secure the lives of the people, they should call for a kind of national cohesion. They should stop pretending that they are the ones ruling. In some countries when these incidents happen, it gets to a stage where the government will call for national unity where everyone comes on board to proffer solutions.
“If the government continues this way, it will get to a stage where non-state actors will take over.”
He lamented that politicians would beg to be voted into office but go to sleep after getting there.
“Now that they are in power, do your work for goodness sake,” he added.
