Seek Moral Revolution, Not Chaotic Political Change, Archbishop Charges Sowore, Youths

 

The Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Plateau State, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, has urged the leader of RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, and Nigerian youths to seek moral and character revolution rather than pursuing a chaotic political revolution. 

Speaking at the 17 General Assembly of the Catholic Church in Jos with the theme: 'Evaluation of the Youth Apostolate', the cleric explained that Nigeria is in dire need of moral revolution that would position it for greatness as opposed to calls for wrong-headed violent-prone revolution.

He maintained that such moral revolution must start from the family, educational institutions and other social circles for proper remodeling of the Nigerian youths.

Kaigama charge came as Sowore continues to remain in incarceration as an Abuja court refused to review his detention.

The cleric said: "When I overheard some people talking about a ‘revolution’ in Nigeria,  I said to myself that any such revolution should be first and foremost be a moral and attitudinal revolution not just a call for some chaotic political change.

"Such social and moral revolution should start from the family, the nursery, primary and secondary schools and our tertiary institutions."

The president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria(CBCN) added that such calls "must be a revolution where indiscipline gives way to discipline, dishonesty to honesty, laziness to hard work, the consumption of illicit drugs to sobriety, hooliganism to true patriotism,  religious fanaticism to inter-religious harmony, egocentricity to serving the interest of others first instead of a myopic view of life which emphasises the superiority of one religious or tribal group over the  common good.

"The revolution we need has to first and foremost do with cultivating attitudes and dispositions which serve as the panacea for healing a wounded and insecure country in order to catapult us to progress in all ramifications. It is a call for genuine patriotism."

Kaigama decried Nigerian youths crave for materialism, stressing that the youths should focus more on their gifts and talents to create a better society.

He added: "The youths are a gifted people. They have the talents, the energy, the creativity, the resourcefulness and vision to do things positively.

"They must all bring their noble gifts to bear on the Church and on the wider society. About gifts and talents, St. Paul affirms in 1 Corinthians 12 that the Spirit distributes to all in different ways: wisdom, knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, teaching, among others.

"We urge our youths to use their gifts and talents sensibly and efficaciously. I urge our youths to imbibe and allow the culture of volunteerism to be ingrained in them; that is to serve without expecting a material reward, and to give out oneself in charitable activities selflessly."

 Kaigama also observed that "volunteering to do things is a great virtue. Unfortunately, our mentality has been ‘nairanised’ to the extent that every small service or initiative has a naira price!

"If someone helps you with your luggage at the airport, courteously welcomes you into an office, forwards or finds your application file for employment, assists with security issues, he looks at you with the expectancy of the cripple in Acts 3:5-6, who wants money from Apostles Peter and Paul. 

"It has almost become a Nigerian culture to expect instant financial remuneration even when one is paid to perform his or her legitimate duties. We need to purge ourselves of this mentality."

Kaigama charged the Nigerian Government to with great attentiveness promote the healthy and disciplined growth of the children and youths.

"When one visits some of the public schools, the school infrastructures are in a pitiable sight, with teachers who lack integrity and exemplary conduct.

"I know of tertiary institutions where students are crowded into lecture halls in their thousands without seats or a functional public address system; where students are forced to buy handouts or give favours in return for marks.

"Some project supervisors make things too difficult for the students, while some teachers are not focused, and always demanding monetary reward from their students,” he stated.