The Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt Revd Prof Samuel Ike, has issued a powerful critique of Nigeria's leadership, stating that the actions and non-verbal cues of government officials are actively worsening divisions within the country.
Verbal and Non-Verbal Cues Deepen Cracks
Delivering his 2025 Christmas message in Enugu on December 20, Bishop Ike argued that both the spoken words and the body language of those in power are splitting Nigerians along dangerous religious and ethnic lines. He connected this directly to the nation's broader crises.
The failing healthcare system, a struggling economy, and rampant insecurity have combined to create a dire situation, he stated. This has resulted in a populace that is both spiritually impoverished and physically hungry.
"Nigerians who have managed to escape death from hunger have remained captives in the den of kidnappers," the cleric lamented. He added that the families of victims are not only broken but are rapidly losing hope in their homeland.
A Call to Acknowledge Crisis and Pursue Unity
Bishop Ike made a stark allegation, stating that Christian genocide is "real in Nigeria." He claimed that Islamic Jihadists and their supporters have become instruments for those seeking to eliminate the Christian population.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to harness the spirit of Christmas to unite the fractured nation. A crucial first step, according to Ike, is for the country to stop denying the severity of its diagnosis. "No definitive treatment can commence when we live in denial of the real diagnosis," he emphasized.
The bishop also pointed to the recent life sentence given to IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu as a flashpoint deepening national division. He noted that public perception has shifted from debating his guilt to viewing the sentencing as a political and tribal decision.
"How did a man narrowly escape the hangman’s noose, receiving a life sentence instead, for the things he said, while many more murderers... are being negotiated with while sitting and taking pictures with top government officials?" Ike questioned.
His advice to the President was clear: pursue a political settlement in the case of Nnamdi Kanu to reduce the agitation in the Southeast region.
Regional Security and State-Level Praise
On the specific insecurity plaguing the Southeast, Bishop Ike called on the region's governors to learn from their counterparts in the Southwest. He advocated for the establishment of a regional security network, funded and equipped by the states, to complement federal efforts.
Shifting focus to Enugu State, he commended Governor Peter Mbah for what he described as a paradigm shift in delivering democratic dividends through multi-dimensional development. However, he urged the governor to alleviate the burden on residents by positively revisiting the issue of multiple taxation in the state.
Concluding his message, Bishop Samuel Ike encouraged all Nigerians to embrace the prince of peace. He reminded them that Christmas brings tidings of great joy that should be reflected in every home across the nation.
