By Odiwuor Opiyo
ONDO, JUNE 14, 2022 (CISA) – Most Rev Jude Ayodeji Arogundade, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, has slammed the President of the Republic of Ireland, Hon Michael D. Higgins, over his June 7 remarks that linked the Massacre which claimed close to 40 lives during Pentecost, to food security and climate change.
In a statement dated June 10, Most Rev Arogundade pronounced that, “such comments associating banditry, kidnapping and gruesome attacks on innocent and harmless citizens of Nigeria with issues concerning climate change and food securities are deflections from the truth.”
“To suggest or make a connection between victims of terror and consequences of climate change is not only misleading but also exactly rubbing salt to the injuries of all who have suffered terrorism in Nigeria. … It is very clear to anyone who has been closely following the events in Nigeria over the past years that the underpinning issues of terror attacks, banditry and unabated onslaught in Nigeria and in the Sahel region and climate change have nothing in common,” said the prelate.
Bishop Arogundade opined that had people taken time to follow the events unfolding in the country with keen interest, they would have realized that alluding to terrorist attacks as a consequence of climate change was inappropriate adding that, “terrorists are on free loose slaughtering, massacring, injuring and installing terror in different parts of Nigeria since over 8 years not because of any reasonable thing but because they are evil-period!”
He appealed to any other person taking advantage of the situation to advance any ideological agenda to desist from such opportunism. He also implored Nigerians to pray for the country and peace in the world.
“The victims of terrorism and indeed all the people of Nigeria would be thankful if world leaders propose fruitful ideas to the government of Nigeria on how to protect the citizens and make Nigeria a safe place to live. This would be a better way of honouring the victims of hate and putting an end to the incessant killings in Nigeria,” he concluded.
