Urges Buhari to draw a line
Paul Obi in Abuja
Founder of the Marian Soup Kitchen (MSK) and Parish Priest of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Gwarinpa, Abuja, Rev. Dr Willy Ojukwu, on Tuesday said the on-going onslaught by Fulani herdsmen was another form of Boko Haram insurgency in the country.
He made the remarks while speaking with journalists in Abuja ahead of the inauguration of a N300 million skills acquisition and humanitarian centre by Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, this week.
Speaking on the backdrop of the recent sporadic attacks by herdsmen across the country, Ojukwu said: “The primary job of any government at all level is to protect the lives and property of the citizens. Presently in Nigeria, Boko Haram inflicts a lot of pain and hardship, destroys life and property. Initially the government of the day took it lightly, till it went out of hand.
In view of this, I call on the federal government to wake up and take the present Fulani herdsmen very serious. They are another form of Boko Haram. A stitch in time saves nine. Buhari government should make hare while the sun shines. These herdsmen must.”
Ojukwu further stated:“some people seem not to value or know the sacredness of life. It belongs to God. Should these herdsmen be treated with soft gloves, while they invade a peaceful community – destroy life and property? He asked.
Ojukwu, a senior Catholic priest in the Archbishop of Abuja, expressed his displeasure with the response of government since the attacks by herdsmen took a new turn. “Sincerely, I am not impressed with the utterances, actions of our present government, it is unacceptable, very slow, unconvincing and highly discouraging,” he said.
The Catholic priest also urged President Buhari to “draw a line on the sand and enforce it; let us not wait till hundreds of lives are destroyed or when they get out of hand. We need more patriotic, convincing action and statements from our government on this issue.”
He commended the efforts of the president on the recovered looted funds, stressing that, there is need to also contain the Fulani herdsmen attacks that have been recorded in the north and some parts of the south.
Speaking on the skills acquisition and humanitarian centre, Ojukwu stated that “the centre will provide a wonderful good condition where young children, teenagers of Christians and Muslims come together side by side without rancour or prejudice.”
He appealed to Nigerians not to wait for government to do everything for “our poor and less privilege, individuals and groups should help. Government of course should do what it takes to go extra miles to help and care for the poor. The greatness of a nation is measured on how she cares for the citizens, more so, for the poor, need, widows and orphans.”
