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.