By Emmanuel Eko
The Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Rev. Fr. Michael A. Banjo has called on Nigerians to move beyond ethnic, religious and regional divisions and embrace a culture of family founded on justice, mutual respect and shared responsibility.
Fr. Banjo made the call in a message marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, titled “Nigeria at 66: Beyond Tribe and Creed towards a Culture of Family.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s journey since independence on October 1, 1960, the Catholic priest recalled the words of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, who declared at independence that the country stood “well-built upon firm foundations.”
He, however, noted that five years later, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe identified a major challenge within the nation’s foundation, observing that many Nigerians still regarded themselves “as aliens in our own country and strangers among our own peoples.”
According to Banjo, the two statements raise a fundamental question about whether Nigerians have truly learnt to belong to one another.
He said although Nigerians share a territory, Constitution, national symbols and public institutions, loyalties often remain restricted by ethnicity, religion and region.
“Our deepest challenge is not diversity itself, but our failure to develop a sense of belonging strong enough to hold our differences together,” he said.
Fr. Banjo recalled his childhood experiences, saying his closest friends came from different ethnic, religious and social backgrounds, but those differences never prevented them from forming strong bonds.
He listed some of his childhood friends as Etekamba, Obi, Debo, Gbenga, Dambo, Saheed, Mojeed and Agbeyegbe, noting that their friendship was based simply on their shared humanity rather than ethnic or religious identity.
He said the experience reflected the African philosophy of Ubuntu, expressed in the principle, “I am because we are.”
According to him, Ubuntu should not remain a cultural slogan or childhood memory, but should become a public ethic expressed through justice, dialogue, mutual respect and commitment to the common good.
He lamented that sectional interests have increasingly affected competence, integrity and equal citizenship in Nigeria.
Banjo also criticised the treatment of Nigerians as “non-indigenes” in communities where they may have lived and contributed for decades.
He said such practices contradict the idea of a united country, arguing that Nigerians cannot claim to be one family while excluding some members and denying them justice.
The CSN Secretary General linked insecurity, economic hardship, displacement, corruption and sectional favouritism to a deeper moral challenge, saying the country has not sufficiently learnt to regard the life, dignity and welfare of every Nigerian as a shared responsibility.
Fr. Banjo proposed the family as a model for rebuilding Nigeria, stressing that healthy families are sustained by values such as respect for life, love, acceptance, forgiveness, sacrifice, responsibility and concern for the vulnerable.
He said Nigeria could maintain its ethnic, cultural and religious diversity while remaining united around the common good.
Quoting the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Banjo said: “You can unite but can never succeed in unifying peoples whose language has set them distinctly apart from one another.”
He explained that unity should bring different peoples together without attempting to erase their identities.
“Nigeria needs the former, not the latter. Like a healthy family, it must hold its diverse members together through justice, mutual respect and shared responsibility, without erasing what makes each distinct,” he said.
The Catholic priest also called for greater respect for religious freedom, saying Nigerians of different faiths should be able to practise their religion freely and participate fully in public life.
He recalled growing up in western Nigeria, where Christians and Muslims, according to him, lived together, respected one another’s faith and participated in community life.
He expressed hope that such harmony would become the experience of Nigerians across the country.
Banjo said Christians living in predominantly Muslim communities and Muslims living in predominantly Christian communities should be able to establish places of worship, practise their faith, participate in public life and enjoy equal protection.
“When we defend the freedom of others as conscientiously as we defend our own, we affirm our common humanity and strengthen the family spirit on which a peaceful and united Nigeria must rest,” he said.
The CSN Secretary General said patriotism should go beyond displaying the national flag, singing the national anthem or supporting those in power.
He described true patriotism as an unwavering commitment to the dignity and welfare of every Nigerian.
He urged Nigerians to reject ethnic and religious insults, favouritism and discrimination, while encouraging citizens to assist victims of injustice without first considering their ethnic or religious background.
Banjo also called on the government to protect lives, safeguard religious freedom, ensure fair access to opportunities and hold perpetrators of injustice accountable.
He urged employers to provide fair wages and humane working conditions, while encouraging wealthy Nigerians to use their resources to create opportunities and support vulnerable people.
Religious leaders, he said, should reject inflammatory preaching and defend the rights of people outside their faith communities, while traditional rulers and community leaders should ensure that no resident is treated as a stranger.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, Fr. Banjo urged Nigerians to look beyond sectional loyalties when assessing political candidates.
He said voters should consider candidates’ character, competence, records and commitment to the common good.
He further charged educators and the media to resist divisive narratives and promote human dignity, equal belonging and the common good.
According to him, the culture of family must extend beyond personal relationships to the country’s institutions, resources and public life.
“Independence gave us a country; the culture of family must teach us to belong to one another,” Banjo said.
He expressed hope that Nigeria would reach a point where every citizen could say, “I belong here, and the good of others is also my responsibility.”
He concluded with a prayer for Nigeria, asking God, through the intercession of Our Lady, Queen of Nigeria, to heal the nation’s divisions and make Nigerians truly one.
