Seek Moral Revolution, Not Chaotic Political Change, Archbishop Charges Sowore, Youths
Seriki Adinoyi
The Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Plateau State, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, has urged the leader of RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, and Nigerian youths to seek moral and character revolution rather than pursuing chaotic political revolution.
Speaking at the 17 General Assembly of the Catholic Church in Jos with the theme: ‘Evaluation of the Youth Apostolate’, the cleric explained that Nigeria is in dire need of moral revolution that would position it for greatness as opposed to calls for wrong-headed violent-prone revolution.
He maintained that such moral revolution must start from the family, educational institutions and other social circles for proper remodeling of the Nigerian youths.
Kaigama charge came as Sowore continues to remain in incarceration as an Abuja court refused to review his detention.
The cleric said: “When I overheard some people talking about a ‘revolution’ in Nigeria, I said to myself that any such revolution should be first and foremost be a moral and attitudinal revolution not just a call for some chaotic political change.
“Such social and moral revolution should start from the family, the nursery, primary and secondary schools and our tertiary institutions.”
The president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria(CBCN) added that such calls “must be a revolution where indiscipline gives way to discipline, dishonesty to honesty, laziness to hard work, the consumption of illicit drugs to sobriety, hooliganism to true patriotism, religious fanaticism to inter-religious harmony, egocentricity to serving the interest of others first instead of a myopic view of life which emphasises the superiority of one religious or tribal group over the common good.
“The revolution we need has to first and foremost do with cultivating attitudes and dispositions which serve as the panacea for healing a wounded and insecure country in order to catapult us to progress in all ramifications. It is a call for genuine patriotism.”
Kaigama decried Nigerian youths crave for materialism, stressing that the youths should focus more on their gifts and talents to create a better society.
He added: “The youths are a gifted people. They have the talents, the energy, the creativity, the resourcefulness and vision to do things positively.
“They must all bring their noble gifts to bear on the Church and on the wider society. About gifts and talents, St. Paul affirms in 1 Corinthians 12 that the Spirit distributes to all in different ways: wisdom, knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, teaching, among others.”