‘Many lives have been lost’ – bishop warns against divisive politics in Kaduna

Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, Catholic archbishop of Kaduna, has warned against divisive politics in the state.

The bishop gave the warning amid the increasing spread of ethnic and religious propaganda in the state ahead of the governorship poll scheduled for Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna on Thursday, Ndagoso asked politicians not to plunge the state into crisis in their quest for power.

He said the politics of religion and ethnicity is “detrimental to unity, peace and stability.”

“The danger of (the increasing) tension as we are aware, is that it can escalate, and violence can be the result,” the bishop said.

“We have seen too much violence. Too many people carry the weight of death, destruction and injuries caused by those who do not value their neighbour as they value themselves, their own family and their own homes.

“People have taken it upon themselves to decide that only their own way of thinking and believing is correct  and so have wreaked havoc on anyone who has a different way of thinking or believing.

“Too many innocent lives have been lost in the process. Yes, my fellow Nigerians, we have seen too much violence. One person who dies in an unjustified manner is a loss to all of us and a loss one too many. Violence in any part  of the country diminishes all of us.

“As a Christian leader, I am again making a special appeal to Christians, we have entered the season of Lent, a season in which we reflect on our own following of Jesus Christ who eschewed violence even to the point of death and who even in his death, forgave those who brought it about.

“The prophet Isaiah reminds us in this season of Lent that the fasting God asks of us is that we reach out to one another, take care of one another and avoid quarreling and strife, so that our light will break forth and healing will quickly come (cf. Isaiah 58).

“As we prepare to vote, I urge each person, each citizen of this country, particularly of Kaduna state, to carry out his or her civic duty and vote according to the dictates of conscience and not to be swayed by others, whether tempted by material goods or overwhelmed by smooth words.

”To vote and have a say in who becomes a political leader is a God-given right and responsibility; let us carry it out with full awareness and without fear or favour.”

Ndagoso asked security agencies to ensure protection of citizens during the voting process.