The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and Archbishop of Owerri Metropolitan, Most Rev Luicius Iwejuru Ugorji, has described Nigeria as a very sick country.
According to him, the country is not only quarantined in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) but also on life support.
The cleric declared that those in charge of managing the affairs of the nation were either overwhelmed, incapable or unwilling to rectify the anomalies.
Rev. Ugorji raised the alarm when he paid a pastoral visit to Chimezie Catholic Parish, Mgbuisii, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
He said: “Nigeria is obviously a very sick nation, and possibly not only quarantined in the intensive care unit, but also on life support. The sickness is prevalent in all sections of the nation’s life.”
He stressed “We have sickness of segregation, nepotism, sectionalism, corruption, ethnicity, worthlessness of human life and a lot more.
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“Look at the level of insecurity in the land. People now find it extremely difficult to go to their farms. This has sadly resulted to acute food shortages and massive hunger.
“The cost of living has equally hit the skies and it appears there is no foreseeable end of the suffering in our God-given land.”
The bishop maintained; “The nation’s highways are no longer safe. Ugly stories are told of how travellers are mercilessly robbed and/or senselessly and mindlessly kidnapped and their relations extorted. A number of the kidnap victims are not usually lucky to tell the story of their ordeals in the hands of their captors.
“Our living homes are not safe, either. People are attacked in their homes, killed, robbed or kidnapped.”
Continuing, the cleric reiterated that Nigeria is “obviously a sick nation and events have shown that those managing the country’s affairs, appear to be overwhelmed, incapable, unwilling or simply do not know how to rectify the anomalies.
“Most rural areas are treated as if they are not part of Nigeria. Our laws are flagrantly disrespected, even by those who are supposed to enforce it.
“Corruption is a moral rottenness. Our corruption index is very high and frightening. Corruption has really strangulated Nigeria’s progress.
“People steal our common patrimony with relish, as if Nigeria’s wealth is inexhaustible. This may be why our politicians wage bloody wars to get into public offices,” the cleric lamented.