Tobechukwu Okoye (nacido en Ogidi, Nigeria, hace 42 años) estudió Microbiología en la Universidad de su país, en 2009 obtuvo una beca para estudiar Teología en Pamplona y fue ordenado sacerdote en Roma. “Me di cuenta de que Dios contaba conmigo para sacar adelante la Iglesia en Nigeria”, explica en esta entrevista sobre la situación de los cristianos en su país, donde conviven un 49,3 % de cristianos y 48,8 % de musulmanes.
-Question: Here comes news of destroyed churches, bans....
-Response: Most Muslims are respectful of other religions. Violent persecutions only occur in very specific places in the north, driven by extremists, such as the fundamentalist group Boko Haram. In those areas, Christians suffer a lot and living their faith means risking their lives. This is experienced with pain by other Christians and most Muslims, and encourages solidarity among all. For example, some time ago extremists planted a car bomb that killed many Catholics outside the church. Out of solidarity, the following Sunday, many Muslims put on white robes and surrounded the church, while saying that before killing Christians they would have to kill them.
-Q.: And what can be done?
-R.: The Christian community supports people who have suffered attacks or who are displaced for security reasons by sending resources that are collected in different parts of the country. These collections are promoted by the bishops in the dioceses. They also denounce the attacks and alert politicians to take action. Controlling Boko Haram is difficult because it is an armed and highly organized group. The international community has promised help, but it is not disinterested, there are always quid pro quos.
-Q.: And from the Vatican?
-R.: Pope Francis is very aware of the situation of Catholics in Nigeria. He has sent several letters to the bishops in which he shares with us his closeness and his prayers for our country. In addition, on several occasions he has publicly condemned the attacks and kidnappings of Boko Haram, alerting the international community.
-Q.: What does it mean to be a Christian there?
We Christians have a lot to contribute to Nigeria. The Christian message of forgiveness, love and mercy is very interesting to facilitate coexistence among the different tribes in my country.
-Q.: In June you will return to Nigeria.
-R.: I still don't know in which city I'm going to live or where I'm going to carry out my priestly work; I'll find out when I get there. Opus Dei promotes social work in Nigeria, centers for the advancement of women, vocational training institutes, medical dispensaries... I wouldn't be surprised if I had to be a chaplain in one of them, nor if I had to lend a hand in diocesan seminaries.
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Published in the newspaper El norte de Castilla.
