Guardian News: Catholics Defy Govt Order On Schools’ Closure

[NewsCaster]

AUTHORITIES of the Catholic Church in the country have directed that schools owned by the church should remain open throughout the period of the voter registration, which commenced yesterday.

Consequently, all teachers, pupils and students of Catholic-owned schools and colleges have been directed to go to their schools throughout the period, and undertake normal teaching and learning.

According to the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Ecclesiastic Province, Dr. Anthony Obinna, who disclosed the Church's stand to The Guardian at the weekend in Owerri, the decision was taken by the Catholic Bishops' Conference, comprising all Bishops and Archbishops of Catholic Church in the country.

Obinna, who did not give details of the directive, said: "This is a directive from the Catholic Bishops Conference."

But in a reaction, the Catholic Director, Social Communications, Lagos Archdiocese, Very Rev. Monsignor Gabriel Osu, denied knowledge of such directive from the Bishops' Conference.

In a chat with The Guardian, he said: "A good Christian is a good citizen. A good citizen is also a good Christian. That is the principle.

"The Church in Nigeria will never oppose the government of the day; instead it promotes good citizenry.   

"The Church partners government. With (the Chairman of the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru) Jega's explanations, it makes sense. The Church supports one man, one vote. This one (Catholic directive) I'm not aware."

Similarly, the Imo State government has urged mission schools in the state not to violate the order to temporarily close the schools.

The state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Jude Njoku, warned the authorities of such schools to comply with the closure or face sanctions.

The Catholic Church's position is another voice to the growing opposition to the Federal Government unilateral closure of public and private schools nationwide for the registration of voters for the April general elections.

Catholics Defy Govt Order On Schools' Closure