Members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) on Sunday shut down Abuja as they held a peaceful rally in the Capital City.
The rally was to register their angst again the incessant killing of innocent Nigerians especially Christians by Boko Haram terrorists and others in the North East region of the country.
The clerics who were led by the President of CBCN, Rev. Augustine Akabueze, supported by other Bishops urged the Federal Government to stop the killings in the land, restore peace and promote unity among all religions.
They defied a Sunday afternoon to hold a planned prayer procession which preceded the first Catholic Bishops Conference for the year 2020.
As many of them as were in Abuja for the conference, under police protection, matched from the National Ecumenical Centre to Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Catholic Church, Area 3, Garki.
Meanwhile, the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo who addressed the Bishops’ conference has called on Nigerians to pray for the government to succeed in handling the nation’s challenges.
Osinbajo, represented by Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, stressed that: “We need to pray for the government.”
In his own address, President of CBCN, Most Rev. Augustine Akubeze, said the government needed to accept the reality that the country was under siege and end insecurity.
He advised Christians to speak with one voice and condemned the killings in the country even as he urged Christians to pray for peace.
READ ALSO: Catholic Bishops Reject Outcome Of Conference On Population, Development, Say Overpopulation A Myth
“Nigeria needs the light in this moment of darkness. The darkness is so noticeable that even the blind can feel it. We live at a time, a very difficult time, in the life of this nation that we all know.
“We are praying for our brothers in the North. We can imagine what you are going through because of your faith. The faith you believe in will grow faster than the terrorists who are killing and holding our Christian brothers and sisters hostage.
“Our Christian values are more important than anything in life. As a church, we cannot forget the kidnapping and killing of our reverend fathers. Our eyes are still filled with tears. Their blood shall never be in vain.
“Government officials pass through Federal roads and they see what is going on with heavy security. This is a clear sign that all is not well. What government can do is to accept this fact and work on it.
“Government officials pass through Federal roads and they see what is going on with heavy security. This is a clear sign that all is not well. What government can do is to accept this fact and work on it.
Government must work to tackle terrorism in the land. The presence of terrorists in our land poses serious danger to the nation.”
He said the Bishops during the conference would examine how the word of God could be a light.
“In the coming days, we shall examine how the word of God can be a light for us. As a church, let us continue to pray for Nigeria and the church. We all should be working for peace,” Akabueze said
