NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: The New President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, (CBCN) Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, has assured of his readiness to do his best to sustain the gains of his predecessors.
Ndagoso who is also Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna lamented the pains of insecurity in the country and maintained that insecurity still remains the biggest challenge bedeviling Nigeria, with a call on the Authorities to address it as an emergency.
In an interview with Frederick Peters, Managing Editor, NEWSDAILYNIGERIA (NDN) in Kaduna recently, the revered Bishop, maintained that until the menace is mitigated life will not make any meaningful meaning to Nigerians.
Excerpts
NDN: Your Grace, congratulations on your appointment as the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.
NDAGOSO: Thank you.
NDN: And how does it feel?
NDAGOSO: Well, more work. More responsibilities. But it’s an honor that I was selected by my brothers. They think I have something to offer. Whatever they think I have to offer, it comes from God, and therefore, relying on God, I can only say I will do my best to ensure that I continue the good work that those who went before me, my predecessors, have done. Work in the church is a continuum. So, for the past 2,000-plus years, people, you know, whatever position you occupy in the church, you do your own little bit, and you know, and that is how the church is built. Therefore, I will do my best.
NDN: But what can you say is the challenge, right now, in the office?
NDAGOSO: Well, I mean, every, everybody knows the biggest challenge that our country has today is insecurity. And unless and until there is security, even the work of proclaiming the gospel message that we are, we are called to do, we can’t do it, and we are not able to do it. There are places that a lot of our parishes, especially in the north, you know, North Central, you know, you know, a lot of pastors are not able to do their own work because of lack of insecurity— And therefore, so I think it is the biggest problem, challenge, that our country Nigeria has today. Unless and until this is fixed, I mean, a lot of things are dependent on this, and unless this is addressed, you know… And this is why at the beginning of the year when the president, you know, the president of our country promised that he had declared a state of emergency in security, all, everybody was very happy. And when you declare a state of emergency, it means that whatever stumbling block that existed by way of law or whatever are removed so that whatever resources you have, you can harness and use them. And this is what we, we are hoping for. But since then, I think things have been—the situation has gone worse. And so we hope that the, the president and his team, you know, especially those responsible, because the primary duty of any government at all, whatever way, you know, is to secure lives and property. When this is lacking, as it is the case now, I think it poses a serious challenge and a serious problem. And so it is our hope and prayer. All we can do is to talk, all we can do is to advise, we do not have the means to, you know? So that is the biggest challenge now.
NDN: Thank you for your time
NDAGOSO: Okay, thank you!