Catholic bishops at war with health minister over abortion

Bishops of the Catholic Conference of Ibadan
Ecclesiastical province have condemned the
alleged subtle plan by the Minister of Health,
Prof. Isaac Adewole, in collaboration with foreign
organisations to increase the culture of
contraception among Nigerian women, describing
this as an anti-life policy.
The bishops also warned the political parties
participating in the Edo and Ondo State
governorship polls to desist from violence and
align with the guidelines stipulated by the
Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) to avert chaos in the system.
They praised President Muhammadu Buhari for
exposing corrupt Nigerians in his anti-graft war,
advising that the president must institutionalise
the fight for it to outlast his administration and in
the system.
A communique issued at the end of the three-
day second plenary meeting of the province held
in Akure, Ondo State, “condemned the recent
move by the Minister of Health, Prof. Adewole, in
collaboration with the foreign agencies to
commit the federal government to increasing the
culture of contraception and subsequently,
abortion among our people.”
The communiqué signed by its President and
Archbishop of Ibadan, Gabriel Abegunrin and
Secretary, who also doubles as the Catholic
Bishop of Ekiti State, Bishop Felix Ajakaye
added: “The policy is being done all in the name
of providing better maternal health and
empowering our people.
“We see such moves as deceptive to our people
and harmful to moral
values and we ask Nigerians to reject them. Our
youth and women need better power supply,
potable water, good roads, better health and
educational institutions more than these
contraceptives.
“Our country must reject this relentless offer of
anti-life incentives under the guise of foreign aid
in order not to destroy our beautiful culture,”
they advised.
The clerics urged INEC to be fair and allow the
people to elect candidates of their choices
without hindrances in the Edo and Ondo
governorship polls.
“As the elections in Ondo and Edo States draw
near, we urge all who will contest the elections
to commit themselves to non-violence and
fairplay.