Political Courage, Not Excuses, Is the Key to Ending Nigeria’s Bloodshed – Pastor Paul Enenche

 

A passionate call for political bravery echoed across the troubled lands of Benue State on Wednesday as Pastor Paul Enenche, Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC) Worldwide, addressed the media during a somber visit to Yelewata Town in Guma Local Government Area. The cleric, visibly disturbed by the latest wave of bloodshed in the community, emphasized that the killings plaguing not just Benue but many regions of Nigeria can only be halted through decisive and moral political action.

His words came against the backdrop of a tragic attack that left dozens of residents dead on June 14, a date that now casts a long shadow over Yelewata Town. According to Pastor Enenche, the loss of innocent lives during peaceful slumber reveals a national failure—one that must not be met with indifference or delay. "There is absolutely no justification—none whatsoever—for what has happened here," he said firmly, his voice cutting through the still air of the grieving community.

What is needed, Pastor Enenche asserted, is not more rhetoric or superficial outrage, but genuine political will. He emphasized that solutions to these ongoing atrocities lie not in the complexity of the situation, but in the sincerity and strength of those in power. Without the commitment of leadership at both state and federal levels, he warned, the cycle of violence will only persist.

Leadership, he argued, must rise above partisan politics and self-interest to take firm, ethical action. "A leadership with the will to do the right thing must place value on human lives above every other consideration," he insisted. “The time has come for conscience to take the lead over convenience, and for truth to prevail over political posturing.”

He called on Nigerian leaders to awaken to the urgency of the moment, reminding them that history, and ultimately God, would hold them accountable for the choices they make—or fail to make. “Everyone will stand before God to give an account for their actions and inactions,” he said solemnly.

Pastor Enenche’s visit was not only a political statement but also an emotional and spiritual gesture. He traveled to Yelewata not merely as a public figure, but as a shepherd mourning with his flock. Families in the town, still reeling from the nightmarish attack, found comfort in his presence, even as they wrestled with unanswered questions and unhealed wounds.

Addressing the gathering, the pastor extended his condolences and expressed unwavering solidarity with the victims’ families. He reiterated that the church stands with the oppressed and afflicted, especially in moments of profound pain and loss. “We are here not just to talk, but to mourn with you, to pray with you, and to demand that your lives be protected,” he told the villagers.

Beyond the emotional resonance of his words, the pastor issued a rallying cry for broader societal action. Civil society, religious institutions, and the general public, he said, must not grow numb to the bloodshed. Every life lost is a reminder that more must be done, and that silence or inaction equates to complicity.

Observers note that this isn’t the first time Pastor Enenche has spoken out forcefully against the crisis of insecurity in Nigeria. His consistent advocacy has positioned him as one of the prominent voices calling for truth and justice amidst a climate of political avoidance and systemic inertia.

As the sun dipped over the mournful skyline of Yelewata, Pastor Enenche’s message hung in the air—an appeal to conscience, a challenge to power, and a prayer for peace. His words were not just a critique of current leadership, but a blueprint for what genuine governance must become: morally grounded, people-centered, and courageously just.

Whether his appeal will ignite the political will he so fervently called for remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the blood of the innocent has soaked the soil long enough. The path forward, as Pastor Enenche outlined, demands that those entrusted with power no longer look away.