- Safiu Kehinde
Godfrey Onah, Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Enugu State, has warned against the disregard of public reactions by the Nigerian government when making policies.
The clergyman, gave the warning in a video of his sermon shared on X on Thursday.
As captured in the video, Onah held that a nation where leaders are not afraid of people’s reaction is doomed.
Citing the persecution of Jesus Christ as example, the clergyman recalled how Pharisees and chief priests were at first unable to arrest Jesus as they were afraid of the people until they were able to manipulate the people’s mind.
He questioned whether such fear of the public exist amongst Nigerian leaders.
“A nation is doomed when its leaders are no longer afraid of the reaction of the people.
“The religious leaders of Israel at that time- the Pharisees and the Chief Priests, they wanted to arrest Jesus but they were afraid of the people.
“It was only when they were able to manipulate the people that they eventually arrested Jesus and have Him killed.
“Anytime a government is no longer afraid of its citizens, that nation is doomed.
“We can see what is happening in our country today. Who is afraid of who? Government afraid of you?” Onah said.
While he made no direct reference, the clergyman’s warning appeared to have borne out of President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of state of emergency in Rivers and the suspension of the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state Assembly.
Citing the unresolved political crisis as reason for the emergency declaration, Tinubu’s suspension of the Fubara-led administration was however met with strong disapproval from members of the public.
Despite public outcry over the unconstitutionality of the suspension, the President would go ahead to swear-in the newly Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibokete Ibas.
The National Assembly would also approve the suspension of Fubara during their plenary today.