On Wednesday, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, blamed the government’s inability to address the current economic hardship on last week’s stampedes across the country.
At least 70 persons, including children, died in stampedes during the distribution of palliatives in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja last week.
In his Christmas message, Kukah urged the government to work more closely with institutions that help to promote the common good of society.
He lamented that the stampedes were a metaphor for the current despair in the country.
The cleric charged Christians to rededicate their lives to God.
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Kukah said: “The tragedies that occurred in Okija, Ibadan, and Abuja where innocent people lost their lives in stampedes at food distribution points are a metaphor for the situation of desperation that citizens have been thrown into.
“The failures of government to respond concretely toward ending the horrible crisis of hunger and desperation have created the conditions for these avoidable tragedies. Citizens are lapsing into despair.
“I appeal to Christians not to forget that we are the light of the world, the city on the hill that cannot be hidden. Christians must not allow the Nigerian state’s structural weaknesses, foibles, and failures to become an excuse for doing wrong.
“We cannot continue to blame the Constitution, the Judiciary, the Police, or other public servants for the corruption in our society.”
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