Catholic Bishops Alarmed Over Nigeria’s Unity

The Catholic Bishops under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) have expressed deep concern over the country’s unity and deepening divisions, attributing these to weak leadership, ethnic tensions, and religious discord.

Bishop of Lafia Diocese and Episcopal Chairman of Social Communications, Most Rev. David Ajang, raised the concern while addressing journalists on Sunday in Abuja after the 2025 Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria Communications Week.

Ajang warned that Nigeria’s unity is at risk unless urgent steps were taken to foster inclusivity and good governance.

He lamented the growing polarisation along ethnic and religious lines, stating that Nigerians can now easily discern a speaker’s regional or religious affiliation simply by their perspective.

“Nobody can deny the fact that Nigeria is divided today. Carry out an experiment: Listen to the news, close your eyes, and when you hear a perspective, you can guess where the person comes from. That is how divided we are,” he said.

The Bishop noted that even within major religions such as Christianity and Islam, internal divisions further complicate national cohesion.

However, he emphasied that strong leadership could bridge these gaps.

“If we get leadership right, most of the disunity will dissolve. The problem is that when one region is in power, others feel sidelined.

“Right now, there is already a coalition of northern politicians trying to wrest power from the present government. Is it because the North is not being served, or because they feel threatened? I think it is a bit of both.

“Especially for those who enjoy political patronage, when someone from their region is in power, they believe benefits will trickle down to them or their associates.

“If we fix the leadership problem, these agitations will fade. It shouldn’t matter who occupies the seat; as long as everyone feels a sense of belonging, things will improve,” the Bishop said.

Ajang also highlighted the delicate balance the media must maintain between truth-telling and national stability, urging journalists to prioritise the common good while reporting responsibly.

“The good of humanity must underpin every news item. While truth must be upheld, how it fosters unity must also be considered. It’s a delicate balance, but many media professionals are doing it well,” he said.

When asked how Nigeria’s over 500 languages could be harnessed for unity, the Bishop noted that many indigenous languages are fading, with younger generations unable to speak them.

“Some languages are already going extinct. But the real issue is not language, it’s identity politics. People simply want ‘their own’ in power, even if they gain nothing from it,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Ajang expressed optimism that Nigeria could overcome its divisions with improved leadership.

“Unfortunately, from independence, it has been the problem of Nigeria. And I hope that one day we get it right.

“I think being together, all of us, is better than being divided. Even if we get divided, it does not solve the problem at all,” he said.