Fr. Richard OMOLADE

There are four cardinal virtues: Justice, Fortitude, Prudence and Temperance. When justice is raised in any discussion, many are quick to think one is talking in political terms and when politics is at play, hard is justice ever served as judgment often goes to the highest bidder. This is why I am writing about fairness today.

So many things are wrong in Nigeria today and the masses are the ones suffering. Because justice has taking flight, we no longer have men and women of valour, hence it is difficult to see people acting with prudence when it concerns the affairs of the masses. What we see of our political elites or are they lowlife and jerks? is that the know nothing about temperance and often act with reckless abandon.

The Nigeria state has not been able to provide basic necessities of life for the masses. There is no pipe borne water in many cities, electricity has taken flight, and the masses are in perpetual darkness and only those in Band A, can purchase what is one of the basic necessities of life.  Health care is not easily accessed and when available it is out of the reach of the masses. When we talk of education, once private schools became the order of the day, we know that quality education has become a scarce commodity, now being hoarded and made available to the wealthy. What then is the government doing for the people?

Recently, there were news of terrorists’ attacks on Christians and others on Palm Sunday in Jos and because very little was don, death and pains were again unleashed on the People of Kaduna.  This is not fair at all, and these dastardly acts are not acts to be seen in human community.   Rational beings do not act irrationally and when irrational acts are experienced we must ascribe them to the realm of beasts. Hence, the need to arrest such behaviour quickly.

In civilized climes, government ensure the safety of their citizens by defending them at all cost. The protection that is assured always makes normal life possible.  But when it is clear that the government in the land cannot be called upon to safeguard lives and property, the masses is gradually being pushed to the edge.  Terrorists, be they kidnappers or insurgents do not have the monopoly of violence. The fact of self-preservation or what is called self-defense also means that each person must do all in his or her power to protect him/herself. That the masses have not taken to arms is not because of cowardice, but because they want peace in the society and do not want chaos to ensue. If Government is perceived to be persistently incompetent or unwilling to bring to justice perpetrators of evils in the land, the masses will be left with no other option than self-defense, and in military terms, a good offence is the best form of defense.  The only way out is for government to ensure fairness, this demands that they must cultivate the fortitude to make right decisions and implement it for the good of all. 

Making right decisions means that the different arms of government must also be impartial in their activities. In this regard the security agents, the judicial arm of government must ensure that culprits are arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Brigandry, oppression, insurgency, and all forms of terrorism are incompatible with the flourishing of human life and therefore anyone found working against the good life must be punished accordingly.

In the Nigeria of today, the masses are not asking for much, just sufficient energy and reliable security. This is a fair demand and indeed a legitimate demand by the masses.   Communities that have been attacked many times, have been called to exercise patience and it takes great fortitude to be patient in the face of wanton destruction of life. 

Patience in the face of political ambiguity and torture is not a bottomless pit. The masses are nearing their tolerance limit. Hence the government should rise to the occasion and do something immediately. If you are fair to your people, you will not tell them that your airport has no light, and you have to return to base quickly. Insensitivity erodes trust in the government and aligns leaders with the oppressors. We want our leaders to feel with the people and in doing so, you will not be indifferent.

The urgency of the situation demands that our leaders be taught the importance of the cardinal virtues and helped to cultivate them so that they can bring them to bear in the act of governance. While Catholic Social teaching does not advocate violence, it also upholds human dignity and the preservation of life from the womb to the tomb.  We cannot keep quiet when that life is being cut short by beasts in human form.