Venerable (Dr.) Victor Oladele, the Chaplain of the Chapel of The Resurrection at the University of Ibadan, has called upon President Bola Tinubu to take decisive actions to tackle the prevailing insecurity in the country.
In a statement titled “Reflection on the State of the Nigerian State: Ominous Signs of Repeat of Failure,” Oladele expressed his concerns about the killings and insecurity in Nigeria, particularly referencing the recent Kaduna bombing, the Plateau massacre, and the senseless loss of innocent lives in the Middle Belt.
The cleric cautioned against the government playing politics with people’s lives and stressed the importance of upholding justice to prevent the country from further deterioration. He remarked, “During the eight years of Buhari’s administration, Nigeria witnessed bloodshed, unrestrained killings by Fulani militias, beheadings by religious extremists, and public executions in the name of God.” Oladele’s statement expressed dismay at the resurgence of brutality against defenseless Nigerians and the wanton destruction of communities in the Middle Belt by heartless entities devoid of empathy.
Echoing the sentiment that all lives matter, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, or social class, the cleric emphasized the need to enforce the constitutional rights of Nigerians to safety, security, and justice without discrimination. He also called for accountability, stating, “Those who view violence as a business and devalue human life must understand that no sin will go unpunished.”
Oladele observed that the mainstreaming of violent ideologies had been facilitated by sections of the political class, a portion of the religious establishment, and the tolerance, if not endorsement, of the Nigerian state over the years. The cleric urged Tinubu and other leaders to address the grave issue of insecurity and work towards restoring peace and stability in the nation.