The Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), says that Nigerians are living under a perpetual sense of insecurity and uncertainty in all parts of the country because of different forms of fear.
Okoh made this remark at the opening of the sixth edition of the Divine Commonwealth Conference (DIVCCON), a flagship programme of the church, with the theme, “Fear Not” on Monday in Abuja.
Okoh said while the fears might be dismissed as wrong perceptions of reality, events had left the ordinary man with no option than to be afraid.
He explained that people’s perception of the inclination of the present administration, was on its own a cause of mistrust and fear.
According to the Primate, the direction of the government is not clear on the issue of national unity as it is perceived to sideline some and favour some.
He said that there was also the fear of alleged Islamisation of the country, citing the belief that Muslims and Islamic issues were being priority as exacerbating the fear.
He wondered how anyone could explain the call for full implementation of the Sharia Criminal Code on Nigeria’s legal system in a country where there are Christians and people of other faith?
Okoh further urged the government to urgently address the menace of herdsmen attacks on farmers and communities by disarming them, to allow people engage in agriculture effectively.
He added that the fear of economic recession, Niger Delta militancy and unemployment were among other fears that Nigerians were currently grappling with, in view of their attendant effects on society.
“Fear is a very bad thing and it would appear as if the government is not taking adequate notice of what these fears are.
“The actions and activities of government or lack of actions in certain areas are generating fear in the heart of people and when there is fear, people act irrationally because they don’t have adequate information.
“It is important for government, through actions and explanations, take away fear from the people.
“So, for a child of God, faith in God will lay fear to rest but we live in a society where we don’t have that type of religious belief.
“It is therefore, important for government to recognise that this is a problem and take adequate steps to remedy them. It will not be right to say ‘don’t mind them’ because after all said and done, government is about the people,” he said.
On the release of the suspected killers of the 84-year-old business woman in Kano, Okoh said the decision was part of the activities that inspired fear, adding that Christians who live in such an environment would be subjected to fear.
He said that if every government began to act like that, the country would become unsafe for people to live in.
The Primate demanded that the government should explain what led to the release of the suspects.
“Government should not give the impression that people can take laws into their hands and go free, because that is not a good signal.
“Nigerians deserve an explanation from the Kano State Government to the effect that the court had tried them and found them not guilty or that wrong people were arrested,” he said.
The primate said the objective of the conference was to coalesce Nigerian Christians into a body to understand the teaching of the Christian Church, practice it and relate with other people in a more acceptable way. (NAN)