Archbishop says souls of murdered Abiola, Rewane, Giwa, others troubling Nigeria

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By Sola AJIBIKE (Abeokuta)

NIGERIA: AN Archbishop has dropped a bombshell why the country has failed to progress despite 57 years of its independence.

The Archbishop of Lagos Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion), Dr. Michael Fape, submitted that the souls of the late Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch magazine, Dele Giwa, ex-Justice Minister and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, the wife of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Alhaji Kudirat Abiola, elder statesman Alfred Rewane, Lagos politician Funsho Williams, among others, who were murdered in cold blood, were crying for vengeance.

He spoke on Sunday at the 57th Independence Anniversary service held at Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, Ake, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Fape, who said in his sermon that the bloods of the “innocent souls” unjustly killed are still troubling the nation, indicted past leaders, who he described as “clueless,” over their inability to find solutions to the nation’s woes.

“We have been seeking the face of God, but have not turned from our wickedness,” he said, adding: “We have shed many bloods of many innocent souls in this nation.  From Dele Giwa to Bola Ige to Alfred Rewane to Funsho Williams to our Kudirat Abiola and many more.”

He further said: “You can still count on.  And the bloods of these innocent ones are crying for vengeance.  Should we continue in sins and ask for forgiveness?  Absolutely no!”

While stressing that the politicians, religious and community leaders were responsible for the nation’s “sickness,” the fiery clergyman said that the Nigeria was in dire need of selfless leaders.

“We are arrogant.  That is why our prayers are not answered,” Fape declared, while urging Nigerians to humble themselves before God, seek and pray for forgiveness.

He, however, stated that the independence needed to be celebrated for the fact that the country had survived civil war, military coups and counter coups and now enjoying 17 years of uninterrupted democratic rule.

“Many nations went into civil war, but never came out successfully.  We went through it and by the grace of God, here we are today,” he said, adding: “There have been military coups and counter coups and eventually we have come to the period of democratic dispensation.”

He further stated: “For 17 years unbroken and beyond, our democracy has been intact by grace of God.  Halleluyah!  Someone says the worst democracy is better than best military rule.”

“There have been accusations and counter accusations, but in spite of all, the Lord has kept us together.  As we are celebrating 57 years of our existence as an independent nation, I want to tell you my brothers and sisters Nigeria is sick,” Fape also said.

He also said: “There is no doubt about that.  Then, when can we actually say a nation is sick and it is in need of healing?

“A nation is sick when it is confused on which path is to thread given the enormity of the challenges that are bedeviling it because of the clueless leaders at the helms of affairs whether past or present governments.”

“Brethren, can we say a nation is sick when the leaders know what to do, but because of arrogance and selfish interests they have put those they are ruling perpetually under their feet to be trampled upon because of the power they exercise,” he said.

The cleric also maintained: “Someone says nothing makes armed robbers different from ordinary person rather than the gun they are using.  When is a nation sick?  Is it a time like this when there is agitation for restructuring right from the South West?  Is it a time like this when there is agitation for Republic of Biafra in the South East?  Is it a time like this when there is environmental degradation in the South-South?”

The Archbishop further declared: “Is it a time like this when the minority Christians in the North are not able to exercise their religious rights?  Brethren, I want to say Nigeria is sick, but God will heal us?

The Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, at the event, agreed that “all is not well with Nigeria,” but counselled that violence was not the best option to resolve the challenges facing the nation.

Onanuga, who represented the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, expressed satisfaction that the country remains united despite the challenges.

She urged religious leaders to continue to preach unity and peaceful co-existence of the country.

The Deputy Governor expressed optimism that the country would remain one and continue to wax stronger as against speculation and agitation for its break-up.

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