AFRICA/NIGERIA - "Our politicians are corrupt and often aid does not go to those who need it", denounces a Bishop

Thursday, 23 March 2017 bishops   armed groups  

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - "Most of the donations from the western world do not get directly to the targeted people. Whenever interventions come, they always insist it must go through the government agencies and through this, such interventions go directly into the pockets of some individuals. Most of our politicians are corrupt", denounced His Exc. Mgr. Oliver Dashe Doeme, Bishop of Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, in northern Nigeria, speaking to a delegation of Aid to the Church in Need. Maiduguri is at the center of Boko Haram attacks and the delegation came to visit the affected population as a sign of solidarity.
Mgr. Doeme in thanking the guests, stressed that the Church and other religious denominations have created efficient structures to distribute aid to victims of Boko Haram.
The delegation of 14 people from South Korea, Asia, America and Europe have launched an appeal to reconciliation and interreligious dialogue to overcome tensions. Tensions are often of political origin, as pointed out by Fr. John Bakeni, where acquisition of land to build
churches has become a great challenge. He also observed with dismay how churches and Christian institutions have been razed down severally without government compensation. The Catholic Church - stressed Fr. Bakeni - has visited all the Official camps in Maiduguri, granting immediate humanitarian response to our Muslim brethren", he said.
The delegation met some of the survivors of the violence of Boko Haram under the guidance of Fr. Gideon Obasogie, Director of the diocesan office for social communications. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/03/2017)


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