Expressing shock over the killings, which he said “is outside our culture of respect and reverence for religious places of worship and love for our fellow man”.
The immediate past president stated this in a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday, which also expressed worry over the reports of hate songs against the Igbo people of the South-East in some northern states.
THEWILL recalls that a certain disparaging song wishing Igbos dead has lately been circulating in the North.
The former president, who stressed that the hate video must not be ignored, called on security agencies of the country to halt the spread of the trending hate message.
He reminded purveyors of the hate message that a similar song in Rwanda prompted a genocide whose pangs were still being felt to date.
Jonathan also expressed shock and disbelief over the Catholic Church shooting in Ozubulu, Anambra State that claimed the lives of many innocent worshipers on Sunday.
He condoled with the survivors and the families of the victims of the Anambra massacre and prayed for the soul of the departed.
The ex-president wrote: “I have taken my time before commenting on the killings at the St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu, in Anambra state, in order that I could be accurately briefed on the truth of the matter.
“However, I condemn the killings and express my shock at such an event which is outside our culture of respect and reverence for religious places of worship and love for our fellow man.
“I condole with the survivors and the families of the victims and pray for the departed. In order to ensure that such occurrences never reoccur, we must rededicate ourselves to our principles of being our brother’s keeper and that without delay.
“I am also disturbed about the news of a song celebrating hatred against a particular Nigerian ethnic group. Given that a similar song is what ignited the Rwandan Genocide, as a nation, we must not take these reports lightly. I urge the security services to do their utmost to nip this wickedness in the bud.
“As I have said previously, we must understand and accept that all Nigerians are brothers and sisters born from the womb of one Nigeria. May this be uppermost in our minds as we pray that God may bless Nigeria. GEJ.”
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