The Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Most Reverend Peter Odetoyinbo, says President Muhammadu Buhari has failed in his responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of the nation.
He spoke on Tuesday as he led Catholic faithful in Abeokuta Diocese on the protest against the killing of two Catholic priests by herdsmen in Benue.
The protesters converged at St. Anne Catholic Church, Ibara, Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital to observe a mass rally around Abeokuta metropolis, calling on the Federal Government to stop the incessant killings in the country.
The protesters stormed the streets of Abeokuta with placards such as: “President Buhari stop this killings or resign, “Human live is Sacred, “Killing is a sin, “Have we lost our human value, “We want Peace in Nigeria” among others.
Speaking with Journalists in the state after the protest, Most Rev. Peter Odetoyinbo stated that the protest was organized to commiserate with families of the deceased priests killed during the Benue attack.
He further called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put an end to the killings as the Chief Security Officer of the country.
According to him, “the President should stop the killings of Nigerians by the herdsmen as the father of the nation. If the father of the house cannot protect his children, he should leave the house.
“We are here to protest the killings and insecurity in the country, more importantly to mourn the killing of two of our priests and 17 parishioners in Makurdi Diocese of Benue State as they are being buried today in solidarity with Catholic faithfuls all over Nigeria.
“All we are saying with this protest is that the federal government should save us and stop this killings. Human lives are very sacred whether you are a Muslim or Christians; it doesn’t really matter.
“We need peace in the country, the President is our father and the head of the house and should therefore live up to the expectations of ensuring that everybody is safe in the country, this is our message with this peaceful protest.
“Buhari should resign his position as a President if he cannot protect and guarantee the security lives and property of all Nigerians.
“Its high time we say no to this illegal killing of innocent Christians who are worshipping their God in Nigeria.
“Enough is enough! The Catholic Church in Nigeria is saying, ‘Enough is enough’ for illegal killing of faithful and loyalists in Nigeria.
“The President should face his official duty of protecting Nigerians and their property rather than fighting corruption all over especially when Nigerians were panicking over Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram and cultists.”
