The Right Reverend Francis Lodonu, Bishop of the Ho Diocese of the Catholic Church, on Friday appealed to ECOWAS to consider using dialogue instead of force to restore calm in Cote d’Ivoire.
He said in a New Year message that the use of force would cause destruction of life and property and “drive peace further away from the people.”
The once peaceful Cote d’Ivoire, the world’s largest producer of cocoa, is in political turmoil following disputed presidential elections two contestants are claiming to have won.
Mr Alassane Ouattara is recognised internationally as the winner but President Laurent Gbagbo is also claiming victory and both
have been sworn in as president.
Rt Rev Lodonu said he was worried that Cote d’Ivoire’s Catholic Bishops’ Conference had remained silent as the political situation in the already divided country deteriorates.
The Bishop said no army from West Africa or Africa should be deployed there to use force, saying “We must not use our own people to kill our own people.”
“We should not bring destruction to the people in the name of democracy,” he said.
The Rev James Noble Tulasi, Head Pastor of Jubilee Christian Centre, Ho, said he was also against the use of force in Cote d’ Ivoire.
“When two elephants fight it is the grass that suffers. Force is not the answer but dialogue and prayer,” he said and called for protection for the vulnerable.