Bishops urge FG to obey court orders on unjust detention
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, (CBCN), has urged the federal government to uphold the rule by obeying court orders in relation to all those unjustly detained.
They made specific reference to leader of the Nigeria’s Islamic Movement, Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky, Nnamdi Kanu of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) and former National Security Adviser, (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, (rtd).
In a communiqué at the end of its 1st plenary meeting which ended in Abuja on Friday, the conference implored the judiciary to rise up to its responsibility of not only being the last hope of the common man but also the impartial and incorruptible arbiter for all. The communiqué, made available to Daily Trust on Sunday, was signed by the President of the CBCN and Archbishop of Jos Diocese, Most Reverend Ignatius Kaigama and Secretary and Bishop of Gboko, Most Reverend William A. Avenya.
Besides, the communiqué enjoined Nigerians to be patriotic, promote good neighbourliness and to obey any constituted authority.
According to the communiqué, Nigeria’s democracy needs united and committed minds that can generate ideas that would walk the country out of these hard times.
It pointed out that a nation cannot grow in the midst of chaos and ineptitude and called on politicians to patriotically invest more efforts in political dialogue.
The bishops also noted that in spite of the present economic hardship, government at all levels should regularly and promptly pay salaries and pensions to their workers and retirees. They however commended states which regularly pay salaries and pensions and urged others to emulate the good examples. The communiqué also urged citizens to support good policies of government and work towards a humane society.
The clerics called on the government to revisit some civic policies that oiled the wheels of our national growth especially the “Operation Feed the Nation”, “War Against Indiscipline” (WAI), “Prison Welfare”, “National Poverty Eradication Programme” (NAPEP), functional street lights and installation of CCTV cameras, registration of SIM Cards, among others.