President Michael D. Higgins’ attempts to offer sympathy over the horrific murder of 40 Catholics in Nigeria have been roundly rejected by the Bishop of the area, who criticised his comments as “incorrect and far-fetched”.
In a statement, Higgins attempted to link the horrific killings to climate change, a connection which seemed to many to be absolutely ridiculous.
Now Bishop Jude Ayodeji Arogundade has released a letter, calling Higgins’ words as “incorrect and far-fetched”. In the letter, he said that no-one should try and make a link between climate change and terrorism, and that any attempt to do so would be “rubbing sale into the injuries of all who have suffered terrorism in Nigeria”.
He also said that anyone who was trying to use this “horrific event” for any kind of ideological agenda should stop doing so immediately.
This is not the first time that comments from the octogenarian have embarrassed the country on the world stage. In 2016, he expressed sympathy over the death of dictator Fidel Castro, announcing that the dictator would be remembered as a “giant among global leaders”, drawing criticism at home and abroad.
So far there has been no comment from Higgins’ spokespeople but many social media users are demanding that he issue an apology immediately.
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