Chibok Girls: Group Blasts Religious Leaders Over Comments, Catholic Bishops Pray For Nigeria

                         

The National Coalition for Justice and Equity yesterday, blasts religious and political leaders over what they described as unguided comments on the issue of the abducted school girls.

While addressing journalists in Onitsha, Anambra State, yesterday, the chairman of the group, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme said some comments credited to some religious leaders are capable of jeopardizing the effort of the security agencies in their effort to rescue the school girls who he said are now agonizing in the hands of their abductors.
He however lauded the international community especially United States and Israel for its sense of concern over issues of insecurity in Nigeria especially on the relentless effort to release the abducted schoolgirls unconditional and urged Nigerians to rise above political and religious sentiments to fight the terrorism monster.

According to him, ``We are looking at the development from the positive light; which shows how important and esteemed the country is to the international community and other influential countries.


Continuing, he urged the Boko Haram sect to lay down their arms and respect the sanctity of the human life as it concerns tender schoolgirls who have not committed any crime by going to school, adding that no religion encourages violence because violence is the worst form of irresponsibility.

Ezekwueme, however, called for the unconditional release of the schoolgirls as matter of urgency, saying that “this is time to stop this sect, which had given room for countries that have more serious issues than Nigeria to cast aspersion on the country.So, let us continue to fast and pray for the safe rescue of the girls” he said

This is coming as the Catholic bishops in Nigeria under the auspices of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has directed all its dioceses across the country to immediately embark on a one week serious prayers for God’s intervention in the affairs of the nation.

The Superior- General, Immaculate Heart of Mary congregation (IHM) Madonna Retreat, Nkopr, Mother- General Mary Ude revealed that it had become necessary to seek God’s intervention in the midst of the present security challenges facing the country.
The superior -General of the female congregation remarked that the decision was taken by the catholic bishops because of their concern by the incessant destruction of lives and property by the Boko Haram insurgents.

She, however, lamented that the last straw that broke the camel’s back was the abduction of the young Chibok school girls more than three weeks ago.

Earlier in the symposium organized by the congregation of Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) to highlight the achievements of the founder, late Archbishop Charles Heerey, Mother Mary Ude emphasized that the first ever symposium on the life of their founder was to revisit the achievements of Archbishop Heerey whom he said lived a life of humility in the service of God.

She noted that the Irish Priest assisted greatly in encouraging education and health care delivery through the establishment of schools and health institutions such as Christ the King College (CKC) Onitsha, Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala among others. She pleaded with both the clergy and the public to emulate the good works of the late missionary.
Among those that delivered papers were senator Mike Ajaegbo, Fr. George  Ehusani and the Archbishop of Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese, Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Okeke who was represented by Prof. Joseph Oguejiofor.

FRANCIS,EKPONE
Onitsha