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Odomero Igbodo
The Methodist Archbishop of Enugu Archdiocese, His Grace Most Revd Christopher Ede has charged Nigerians to shun statements and utterances capable of threatening the unity of the country.
Archbishop Ede who made the call in Enugu also called on people promoting hate speeches to desist so as not to cause violence or war.
He maintained that rather than being agents of disunity, Nigerians should strive to promote peace, and brotherliness to ensure sustainable development of the country.
Archbishop Ede commended South-East governors who recently met with the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Prince Nnamdi Kanu and expressed the hope that the meeting produces far-reaching outcome to quell the growing agitations.
He also congratulated Moslems on the occasion of the Eid-El- Kabir celebration and urged them to imbibe the tenets of Islam which are peace, love and tolerance.
EXCERPT
We can’t deny the fact that currently, the country is heated up. We are talking about a phrase that is just developed; Hate Speech which seems to pervade the length and breadth of the country. We would want to know what danger it portends for the unity of Nigeria
Well, the word hate speech actually refers to statements or utterances which you make concerning a person, a group or an ethnic nationality; that paints a picture of hatred either by you or by your group against such people. And these speeches or utterances pitch you and the other group in a position capable of sparking off violence and war. Recently, Nigeria started experiencing hate speech. Speeches coming from different angles; all trying to paint on ethnic nationality and all that as bad, oppressing or being oppressed, as wanting to undo the other, therefore, making the younger generation of these ethnic nationalities pitch tents against each others in readiness for battle.
Hate speeches actually begin before any war starts. It is like abusing somebody or telling somebody can’t do anything, or painting a picture, this person is bad, this person is not doing what is right. These are the things that make hate speeches to begin. And so generally, hate speeches occasion violence and war and it is not just good for our country.
How do we address this?
How we address it is to tell everyone to stop. Speeches are made by human beings not by spirits. It is human beings who instead of painting a picture of peace, paint picture of war . It is human beings who instead of saying things that carry grace, say things that carry disgrace. It is people who say things to promote love but instead of love will begin to have hate and acrimony. So what we need to do is to tell everybody that is part of this bad development, to please stop.
Let us respect each other by the way we speak. Let us respect each other because– You know the Bible said the tongue is a small as a match stick but it can set the whole forest ablaze. What you say with your tongue, no matter how small it is, it can cause a big uproar; it can cause destruction in the entire country.
South East Governors, few days ago met with the leaders of Indigenous People of Biafra, what is your reaction?
First of all I want to thank them for swallowing their pride to meet with them. Because when we met at Nike Lake and some people were saying, isolate him; diminish him. That is not the right way to handle this matter. I thank God that they have now understood the meaning of dialogue. I thank God for meeting with him. I do hope the outcome would douse the tension we have.
What message do you have for Nigerians as Muslims celebrate one of their key events?
The Muslims are celebrating, and I wish them a very joyous Eid-El-Kabir. I want to ask them to take a good look at the tenets of the faith. Every faith preaches love; every faith preaches unity, peace, accommodation and love for one another. Let us live together as a country; let them obey the tenets of their faith, like Mohammed so that we can live together in peace and harmony.
