The Catholic Bishop of Kaduna Archdiocese, Most Rev. Matthew Man-oso Ndagoso, yesterday urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to expedite action towards subsidising the cost of fertiliser for farmers following the crash of food prices.
Speaking in Kaduna yesterday after Celebrating Mass for National Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA) Kaduna chapter, the Archbishop lamented that the cost of two bags of corn can’t buy a bag of fertiliser for this year’s farming season.
According to him, the importation of food has helped crash the prices of food in the market but has enriched the foreign markets to the detriment of indigenous farmers.
He maintained that, there cannot be food security for Nigeria when bandits have taken over most of the agrarian territories.
On challenges of insecurity faced by the religious in Kaduna, Ndagoso revealed that “we are called to serve the people, we are called to be with the people, and wherever the people are, that is where the priest is. The place is not his own. I think it was mentioned by one of the speakers ‘we are not our own, we are because of the people.’
And therefore, whatever their challenges are, whatever their difficulties are, whatever their joys are, whatever their sorrows are, actually this is what the Second Vatican Council knows. That is their challenges, their sorrows, their joys are the challenges, joys and sorrows of the church and therefore of the priests. And so, yes, we’ve had a fair share of kidnappings in this Archdiocese of Kaduna.”
“Since this kidnapping started, we’ve had eight of our priests kidnapped, four of them killed. One, the very first to be kidnapped is still in captivity. We don’t know whether he’s alive or he’s dead or whatever. So, really, we’ve had it. But, you know, I’ve always said, it is not only priests that have been kidnapped. Many also, many of our faithful have been kidnapped. Many, many, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds have been killed. Thousands have gone through this experience. And therefore, is it a challenge? Yes, it is a challenge. And like I said, wherever our people are, that is where we are, and that is what our priests are doing. I really salute their courage,” the Archbishop stressed.
He said, “I have over 20 parishes between Abuja and Kaduna and we have parishes even in the remotest part of this axis. And my priests are there. They are living there, they are working there. In fact, they go to where sometimes those who are armed are afraid to go. When people live in there, they are sick, when they are dead, they go there to bury them. They go there to administer the sacraments. And so if they can do that, why wouldn’t I brave the road, you know? So it is true, yes, we have a big challenge, but I must say that with the challenges we’ve heard, I think it has not affected the fate of the people. If anything, it has strengthened them.”
Earlier, the chairman National Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA) Kaduna chapter Rev. Fr. Gandu in his address stated that “I must commend the strides and landmark achievements of the state government recorded across the state within the span of two years that it has been in government. Without the need to begin to list completed and ongoing projects, it suffice to say that they were laudable enough to attract the state visit of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria president Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the commissioning ceremonies. This is besides other intangible positive impact you are making.
” This inclusive approach to governance caters not only for the infrastructural needs of the people but more so for the peaceful existence and coexistence of the the people of the state. For many years, our dear state had taken the boldest headlines for all the negative reasons like inter-communal clashes, inter-religious conflicts, farmer-herder disputes, rural communities invasions, banditry, kidnapping for ransom or revenge, genocide allegations, et cetera,” he added.
Rev. Fr. Gandu however lamented that, “while we commend you for your positive strides which by the way are part of the responsibilities you swore an oath to carry out as governor of Kaduna State for an initial term of four years, we wish to draw your attention to certain concerns that are fast eroding the goodwill and confidence your government have enjoyed from the generality of the people of the State.
The selective rehabilitation of road networks: a stranger visiting Kaduna metropolis for the first time would easily tell in a simple tour, where Christians or Muslims are the dominant population simply by the conditions of the roads in the different settlements.”
He charged Governor Uba Sani to ensure that roads at the Christian-dominated settlement are also rehabilitated.
Also speaking in his homily, Rev. Fr. Hope Ayodele charged the religious to emulate the exemplary leadership of the Patron Saint John Marie Vianney.
