The Catholic Bishop of Warri Diocese, Most Rev. Anthony Ewherido, has called on Nigerians, particularly Deltans, to rise above fear and division and join hands to tackle the growing menace of insecurity in the country.
Speaking in an interview with journalists, Bishop Ewherido decried the worsening security situation across Nigeria, lamenting its devastating impact on rural communities, the economy, and the freedom of movement.
“Everybody knows about the security situation in Nigeria,” he said. “It has driven people from their farms, from their jobs, and even from the roads. People are now afraid to travel without armed escorts. That is not the way a country should be.”
He stressed the need for a strong political and economic will to arrest insecurity, noting that unemployment, weak infrastructure, and poor access to education continue to fuel criminality.
“If education is strong, employment is strong, and infrastructure is strong, people will have reasons to live and not turn to crime,” he added.
Bishop Ewherido also made a heartfelt appeal to Deltans, urging them to love one another, be patriotic, and take responsibility for the development of their communities.
“We always blame the government for everything,” he said. “But we should ask ourselves what we can contribute. Even the governor cannot do it all.
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“Contracts are awarded to people, many of them Deltans. So why are our roads, hospitals, and schools in poor shape? The contractors must change. We must change.”
In a call for peace and social responsibility, the bishop added that “let us listen to one another and aim to drive crime out of our society. Many of the criminals are our own children. We can stop crime, if we truly want to.”
On the recent transition in the Vatican, Bishop Ewherido expressed hope and trust in the leadership of Pope Leo XIV, who succeeds the late Pope Francis.
“It’s not the church that changed; it’s God who called Pope Francis home and gave us another good man,” he said.
“We will support him with our prayers. He will continue to be the conscience of humanity and speak truth to power. The Catholic Church will endure through him.”
Bishop Ewherido concluded by praying for peace and urging everyone to focus on what truly matters: community, unity, and purposeful living.