Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Cardinal Anthony Okogie, has warned politicians that they will some day stand before God to give account of their stewardship.
Okogie gave the warning while reacting to the face-off between the Executive and the Legislative arms of the Federal Government.
In a statement he personally signed, Okogie called on the country’s leaders to put the interest of the citizenry above personal interests.
He urged both warring arms of government to come together and work for the development of the nation.
Okogie called on political leaders to provide infrastructure and adequate security for the citizens.
Rather than engage in face-off, Okogie said leaders must assume the responsibility of governance by securing the nation from armed robbers, kidnappers and herdsmen.
The statement reads, “Our politicians are busy fighting one another, exchanging blows in the hallowed chambers of legislation, resorting to character assassination.
“Our law enforcement institutions have been turned into their arsenal in this battle of the sanctimonious; the executive accuses the legislature of corruption and vice versa.
“Both parties in the conflict pretend to be fighting for us, they are fighting to guard the “trophy” they won at the last election while preparing to retain the same trophy in the next election.
“They are so busy fighting that they have no time to work for our security. Their sterile conflict is, in fact, prejudicial to our security.
“Their negligence of duty, their tantrums, their failure to be transparent and accountable with very few exceptions, point to the fact that they are part of the equation of insecurity in our country.
“Our leaders are well protected, but we the citizens are not. Political leaders who cannot provide security are a total failure.
“Almost six decades after independence, almost 70 years after the establishment of Nigeria’s premier University of Ibadan, we still have to rely on medical tourism.
“But how many poor Nigerians can afford to spend one day in a hospital overseas. How many can afford to be away from their work for three months?
“But Nigerians have the capacity to run good hospitals. All we just need is a leadership that enables, not one that disables.
“They receive the perks of office in a land where workers have gone unpaid for months, government does not serve Nigerians and the public servant does not serve the public.
“One thing is clear: almost all our political leaders are either Christian or Muslim. The two religions teach that we shall one day account for our earthly stewardship.
“Every leader will stand before the “Just Judge” (God) and account for the way he or she got into positions of authority and used the authority.
“Propaganda in the print and electronic media will be of no assistance, lies told to get elected and falsehood peddled to remain in office will be of no value.”
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