Nigerian cardinal regarded as advocate for human rights, democracy

Published: 2003-10-21

LAGOS, Nigeria (CNS) -- Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie of Lagos made international news in 2001 when he offered his life to save a Muslim woman sentenced to death for adultery. The cardinal explained at the time that he decided to make the offer as a church protest against Shariah, or Islamic law. The move did not surprise those closest to the cardinal, regarded by most Nigerians as a fearless advocate for human rights, religious freedom and democratic rule. Cardinal Okogie was a longtime critic of the military dictatorship that controlled Nigeria for 16 years, through 1999. And while he has been generally supportive of the current civilian government, he has not hesitated to criticize President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration for moving slowly in implementing reforms to help Nigeria's poor. The archbishop of Lagos, whom Pope John Paul II named to the College of Cardinals Sept. 28, received his red hat at an Oct. 21 consistory at the Vatican.

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