The Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelisation at the Vatican, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, has described Nigeria’s insecurity as self-inflicted, blaming the nation’s divisions and growing intolerance for its recurring violence.
Speaking at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria in Abuja during his reception and induction into the Knights of St. John International, Nigeria Subordinate, Archbishop Nwachukwu urged Nigerians to embrace unity and view diversity as a national asset rather than a source of conflict.
“Differences are not supposed to be something negative. God made creation with differences, but He also made them to be united,” he said.
The Vatican envoy — one of the highest-ranking Nigerian prelates in Rome — stressed that true peace would only be achieved when Nigerians build harmony across religious and ethnic divides.
“Our differences should not be a source of confusion. Our differences should be harnessed to be a source of beauty in our country. Division should not even be the problem, because whether we are Christians or Muslims, our unity flows from our knowledge of God,” he said.
According to him, the country’s divisions have turned what should be blessings into sources of pain and insecurity. “We could have differences according to our languages or ethnic origin, but we should all be able to use these differences to form our beauty in unity,” he added.
The event drew clergy, knights, and ladies from across the country and featured renewed calls for tolerance, peace, and interfaith cooperation.
Prof. Remy Uche, Supreme Subordinate President of the Knights of St. John International, said Archbishop Nwachukwu’s induction represented a significant moment for the Order and the Church in Nigeria.
“Today is a special gathering because we are receiving into our Order a prelate of high global visibility,” he said.
He condemned killings in the name of religion, saying such acts contradict divine and moral principles. “God created everybody — man and woman, Christians, Muslims, Hindu, even those who don’t believe in God. But God forbids killing. No true religion permits it,” he said.
Florence Chuke, President of the Ladies Auxiliary, Abuja Grand Commandery, lamented that women and children continue to suffer the most from the nation’s insecurity. “It’s painful to see human beings slaughtered like chickens. We are praying that God will help Nigeria find peace,” she said.
Also speaking, Very Rev. Fr. Mike Umoh, Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, called for improved communication and collaboration within institutions and communities.
“The Church itself is communicative. Too many of our churches are hardly able to coordinate the various talents and let everybody play their role. The principle of collaboration and subsidiarity are key,” he said.
