ROME / ABUJA — The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Godfrey Onah, has shared a humiliating ordeal at the Vatican Bank, revealing that he was denied access to his own funds simply because he was born in Nigeria.
The cleric, who previously served as the Vice-Rector of the prestigious Pontifical Urban University in Rome, disclosed that upon attempting to make a withdrawal, bank officials informed him that special authorization was required due to his Nigerian place of birth. When he inquired if the policy applied to all account holders, the response was direct: “It depends on where you were born.”
The incident highlights how the diplomatic standing and international repute of Nigerian passport holders have plummeted globally, driven by systemic governance failures, systemic corruption, and an escalating security crisis at home.
Systemic Corruption And Political Selective Justice
The diplomatic degradation experienced by citizens abroad reflects widespread public anger over unchecked financial malfeasance across Nigeria’s federal ministries and state agencies.
Civic organizations and international watchdogs continue to criticize broad-daylight looting within government parastatals, where public funds intended for infrastructure and social welfare vanish without accountability.
Compounding the problem is the perception that anti-graft institutions—such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)—are systematically weaponized to target opposition leaders while shielding ruling party allies. Opposition figures, including former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, have repeatedly accused anti-corruption organs of selective prosecution intended to neutralize political rivals rather than eradicate corruption.
Extortion and compromise within law enforcement agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force and frontline security organs, further undermine international confidence in the country’s institutional integrity.
Unchecked Persecution And The Human Cost Of Insecurity
The decline in global respect is further aggravated by the federal government’s inability to stop recurring massacres across the Middle Belt and Kaduna State, where agrarian Christian communities face persistent, unprovoked violence from armed groups.
Across Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna, and Taraba, hundreds of farming communities have been razed, thousands of civilians killed, and vast populations displaced into informal camps without justice or adequate security intervention. The long list of unresolved killings—ranging from the Owo church massacre to recurring Christmas and Easter raids in Plateau villages—has projected an image of a state unable or unwilling to safeguard its citizens’ fundamental right to life.
Military Sacrifices Amid Strategic Failure
Despite colossal defense allocations, the military continues to struggle against banditry, terror networks, and insurgent incursions. While the high command faces scrutiny over operational inefficiency, frontline troops pay the ultimate price.
Dozens of high-ranking officers and dedicated personnel have lost their lives in ambush operations across the North-West and Middle Belt, including:
- Brigadier General Dzarma Zirkushu and his officers, who fell fighting ISWAP terrorists in Borno State.
- Major A.M. Umar and several frontline commanders killed during anti-banditry operations in Kaduna and Niger states.
- Lieutenant Colonel A.H. Ali, Major D.E. Obi, Major J.U. Shafa, and Captain U. Zakari, alongside 13 soldiers, murdered during a security mission in Delta State.
- Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo and tactical air crew members lost in combat aviation missions against armed bandits in the North-West.
Analysts emphasize that until the central government confronts systemic corruption, guarantees equal justice, and decisively secures its territory, everyday Nigerians—regardless of their stature, priesthood, or international service—will continue to bear the heavy burden of global suspicion and institutional dishonor.
