By: Joy Odor/Kaduna
A Catholic Clergy, Right Reverend Monsignor Gabriel Veron Enuagha (a. k. a Father Thank-God) has described the snatching away the symbol of authority of the National Assembly “Mace” by unknown persons as a Coup d’état.
Monsignor Enuagha stated this in an interview with newsmen shortly after his 40 years Priestly Ordination Anniversary celebration Mass at Saint Joseph Catholic Cathedral, Kaduna, North-West, Nigeria on Saturday.
He was of the opinion that the removal of the Mace by the Thugs of the suspended Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is a bad omen, pointing out that when the symbol of authority is removed, then the National Assembly is no longer in existence and the Army can take over.
The Catholic Clergy believed that the Mace would not have been stolen from the National Assembly when the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu was presiding at the plenary without some collusion.
“It is a very bad omen because the Mace is a symbol of authority and once the symbol of authority is removed, is like a Coup d’état. You come and remove the National Assembly, and then Army will take over.
“The Mace is the symbol of authority that we see and if the Mace is removed is a Coup d’état, there is no more arms of Government but only the Executives or may be the Judiciary may not have a say” he said.
Monsignor Enuagha also informed that democracy cannot function properly without the 3 arms of government or the sake of separation of powers and monitoring each other.
“The legislature will monitor the Executives, the Executives will monitor the Judiciary, the Judiciary will interpret the laws and there will be a balance.
“I do not believe that the Mace will be taken without some collusion.
“Even you and l cannot walk in into the National Assembly to take the Mace, so how come these people went in and out, it shows there is some level collaboration within the powers that being” he stressed.
On the issues of crimes in the Country such as kidnapping and corruption, Monsignor Enuagha said that he feels like weeping because Nigeria has been kidnapped by corruption.
The Catholic Clergy lamented that corruption has eaten dip into the Nation’s fabrics, saying it is only by the grace of God that Nigeria will be able to come out of the mess unless through restructuring.
“I feel like weeping because Nigeria has been kidnapped by corruption and there is no two ways about that.“Corruption has eaten dip into our very fabrics that it is only by the grace of God that we will be able to come out it.
“I still believe strongly that unless we restructure this country. All the power in the country is tied down at the top which give us a strong receipt for corruption Monsignor Enuagha.
Monsignor Enuagha therefore described his 40 years as a Catholic Priestly, a joyful life he has lived and would not ask for more, saying, it is very significant because he did not know that he would have serve God up till 40 years.
“I feel very humbly and belated. l did not know that l will serve up till these 40 years.
“It is significant and because you know that the Israelite wondered in the wilderness for 40 years before they reached the Promised Land, so the normal years the Catholic Church celebrate Priest, is 25 or 50 years.
“But I said, if I each 40 years, I have to mark it because, it is not all the Priest that have see 40 years, so l thanked God that he gave me the grace to continue to push on in His vineyard” he ended.
