The Edo State Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, on Friday, joined other top government officials to bid farewell to late Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia, who was brutally killed by suspected kidnappers, while clerics at the event lamented the deteriorating state of security in the country.
Odia, a catholic priest, was reportedly slain by his abductors in Ikabigbo, Etsako West Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State.
At the funeral service and burial held for the priest at the Priests’ Cemetery, Immaculate Conception Seminary, Ivianokpodi-Agenebode in Etsako East LGA, the National President of the Nigeria Catholic Diocesan Priest Association (NCDPA), Very Rev. Fr. Johnbosco Ezehi, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to act swiftly to ensure the safety and security of Nigerians.
He said that the Federal Government has failed in its main duty of safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians, adding that the President should resign or find a solution to the rising cases of killings and kidnappings in the country.
Ezehi said, “We denounce the increasing attacks by suspected herdsmen who have made the country a huge cemetery. If the President cannot keep our country safe, then he automatically loses the confidence of the citizens. He should no longer continue to oversee the killing field and mass cemetery that our country has become.
“Nigerians call on the President to take drastic and urgent steps to stop the ugly tragedy that endangers the foundation of our collective existence and unity as a nation. It’s obvious to the nation that the president has failed in his main duty of protecting the lives of Nigerians.”
On his part, Shaibu said, “I must concur with our cleric that the government has failed in its obligations of securing lives and properties. If the issue of security was addressed earlier enough, we would not get to where we are today. We must turn to God to help us now as our land is in trouble and only God will heal our land.”
Assuring improved security in the state, the acting governor said, “As a state government, we have decided to take our destiny into our own hands and not shift the blame. We are working with security agencies and stakeholders in securing our state.
“We have engaged religious leaders and vigilante groups, among others and have sufficiently equipped them to boost our security architecture. We want to secure the property and lives of our people.”
Shaibu said that the state is localizing security and working with all security stakeholders
in the state to ensure a peaceful, safe and secured environment, saying, “We can’t isolate ourselves from the federal security and calling on everyone to be security agents working with the government to secure our land.”
Also, the Catholic Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Most. Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia said, “I appeal to both the federal, state and local governments, as the Lord has entrusted the leadership and security of Nigeria into their hands, to do the necessary by protecting the lives and property of the people which is their primary responsibility.”
