TheCable

John Onaiyekan, former Catholic archbishop of Abuja, says anyone who cannot develop Nigeria has no business becoming a politician.

Onaiyekan spoke on Saturday at a migration conference tagged “Action against irregular migration of Nigerians”, in Abuja.

He also decried the spate of attacks in various parts of the country, saying citizens are now at the mercy of criminals.

There have been continued cases of attacks and banditry in various parts of the country particularly in Zamfara and Kaduna states.

Major roads in the two states, especially the Abuja-Kaduna highway, have been abandoned by many as a result of high cases of abduction.

Onaiyekan said there is great need for government to step up measures to address the insecurity in the country.

The archbishop also decried cases where citizens are forced to pay ransoms to secure their release or that of their loved ones.

He said: “If you have no idea of how to develop Nigeria through education, security, amongst others then, do not go into politics. This same kidnapping issue happened along Lokoja /Kabba road some years back; I could not travel then.

“I could not understand that 30km of road cannot be policed. It just gives you a very sad impression that we are really at the mercy of the criminals. So you get ready to pay them, this is not the way to live.”