The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has kicked against the recent execution of four prison inmates in Edo State, with a suggestion that the Constitution should be amended to “proscribe all laws that infringe on the rights of individuals, especially the right to life.”
The President of the CBCN and Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, in a statement made available to our correspondent on Wednesday in Abuja, expressed shock that at a time when it was believed that Nigeria was on the verge of joining the civilised world in ending death penalty, Edo State embarked on the “unfortunate execution of four convicted persons in Benin City.”
After the death warrants for the execution of Osaremwinda Aigbuohian and Daniel Nsofor had been signed by Governor Adams Oshiomhole, their lawyers went to court to obtain a stay of execution on the death sentence.
Two other convicts were also hanged in Benin.
It will be recalled that the last execution in Nigeria took place in 2006, thereby sending signals that Nigeria had heeded the call for a moratorium on capital punishment with a view to achieving total abolition.
CBCN said using the Constitution to justify execution was a clear descent from modernity to savagery.
Kaigama said, “Generally, punishment, which is the deliberate infliction of evil on another, is always in need of justification. This has normally taken the form of indicating some good, which is to be obtained through punishment or evil, which will be warded off.
“We urge all state actors to show more restraint in carrying out functions that extinguish the rights to life and dignity of human persons. This has a way of reaching out to the hearts of mindless criminals, who will feel accommodated despite their devious ways; an opportunity to change.”
“We call on the President, the National Assembly, religious and civil society groups to join in this struggle to end this evil. We need to rededicate ourselves to our common humanity.”
The CBCN also contended that capital punishment would neither give the person (victim) the opportunity to conform to the norms of the society nor give the opportunity of deterrence to actual and potential criminals from future deeds of violence.
The conference said, “We are not unaware of the fact that we live in a plural society with different views on the death penalty. However, it is the duty of our leaders to pull together these diverse views and provide a moral justification for the protection and nurturing of the lives of our citizens.”
Culled: Punchng