Guardian

CATHOLIC Metropolitan Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has fingered greed and selfishness as factors behind crises in northern Nigeria.

During an interactive session with reporters, recently, the cleric lamented: “People want to dominate others, wanting only their voices to be heard. They want to have control of life and situations.”

The Archbishop noted that persons who are fomenting trouble must realise that all human beings are made in the likeness of God and they have a right to exist, as provided in the laws of the land.

He said: “In their desperate and insidious ambitions to fulfill their own agenda, they should always be conscious of the fact that they are not pursuing a national agenda. They should allow others to live. They should know that others, like themselves, have the right to live. This right must not be abridged. Every selfishness, greed and personal agenda, therefore, must be subjected to the people of the nation.”

Advising President Jonathan on how to move the nation forward, the cleric said the President should address issues frontally, especially as it affects corruption and good governance.

“Many agents have been set up to address issues bordering on these. They have, however, never come up with solution. The President should ensure that these agencies are empowered to carry out their responsibilities and that their findings are not swept under the carpet,” he said.

Reiterating the position of the Catholic Church on same-sex marriage, Martins said: “It is unfortunate that many people are supporting this wrong notion with money. The Church will never support.  The Church was represented at the debate and the position of the Church was made known to the National Assembly. The Church will continue to make use of available opportunity, such as interaction with lawmakers, to preach the truth, so that members of Christ among them will put their feet down.”

Speaking on corruption in the Church, the Archbishop said: “It is the responsibility of every institution to tell those on the wrong side of the divide that they are not on the path of righteousness. We should never stop preaching what is acceptable to God and human beings. The Church is not to cast away erring ones but bring them back to the right path. We should do this with sincerity.”