«The Pope has taught us to resist those who profane the name of God to practice violence. In Nigeria it is not a religious war, but fierce persecution in the name of power and the economy. They want to disintegrate the federation but they will not succeed», these are the first words of the Archbishop.
On his Cardinal coat of arms the Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Okogie Olobunmi, has a motto that seems to be a program of resistance for the martyr Church of Nigeria: «Faith, love, courage».
Cardinal Okogie speaks to «Vatican Insider» in sorrowful tones while from the north of the African country thunder descends over the capital under siege.
After the attacks on Christians which in recent days have caused 30 deaths, the government imposed a 24-hour curfew across the country. Most of the victims were of Igbo ethnic, mostly Christians.
Eleven people were killed Friday night in a church in the capital Yola. Previously, another 17 Christians had been killed in Mubi, in the same state.
The cardinal, symbol of Nigerian resistance, reports the pressure of «huge economic interests» to «destabilize a country which is attractive due to its oil resources».
In the Vatican he is highly respected for his wisdom and ability to govern. He is part of the Council of Cardinals, which deals with the study of Organizational and Economic Affairs of the Holy See.
Eminence, did you expect a similar outbreak of violence?
«It is a tragic escalation, for some time the situation has been serious but never have Boko Haram terrorists issued an ultimatum to us Christians to induce us to leave the north of our country. I have no evidence to support the fact that they receive support from the outside, but it is undeniable that their threats have increased compared to the past. But surely they will fail in their intent. The Nigerian Church is strong and vital, it will not be intimidated and like Jesus on the cross, it is ready to testify its faith to the ultimate sacrifice».
Is there still religious freedom in Nigeria?
«Yes, the alarm will grow in spite of the many Christians who have always lived in the northern part of the federation. Especially, they do not feel protected by the State which for fear and the complicity of some areas does not adequately counter terrorists. With true Muslims there are no actual coexistence issues. The terrorists are exploiting religion for the sole purpose of power. Unfortunately the authorities have obviously failed to protect Christian citizens of the North».
Why doesn’t the government protect you?
«The authorities know who they are since the terrorists of "Boko Haram "have publicly claimed responsibility for the attacks. Only by quickly arresting and condemning those responsible for the murder of innocent people, can the government regain public trust. So far the authorities have not demonstrated that they can ensure the safety of citizens against the challenge posed by Islamist terrorism. And heinous crimes go unpunished».
Do the Muslims in the north want to secede from the predominantly Christian south?
«No, the situation is much more articulate than what the terrorists want us to believe. The Nigerian leaders of Islam have said that terrorists of "Boko Haram" are loose cannons that endanger national interest and thereby damage the peaceful Muslims who represent the overwhelming total and live peacefully mixed with Christians. Churches devastated by suicide-attacks have been visited by Islamic delegations in the name of solidarity. Dialogue is the antidote to the poison of terrorism. We will not respond to violence with violence. The Gospel speaks clearly».
The attacks coincide with a very difficult time for Nigeria ...
«Unemployment and poverty are plaguing the country. Prices have skyrocketed and the project of systematic ethnic-cleansing in the north allows religious terrorists to strengthen themselves in the instability of the system. Recently, the Nigerian Church has expressed its opposition to the proposal made by the Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, to approve the establishment of an Islamic bank in Nigeria, as part of a scheme to transform the country into an Islamic state and to subjugate Christians in Nigeria. We are a secular state, whose citizens must be sensitive to the religious beliefs of others. The radical Islamic sect of "Boko Haram" does not want peaceful coexistence, which is the origin of the federation, but forced Islamization cannot prevail».