TheGavel: The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the country’s ongoing economic challenges to prevent further hardship for Nigerians.
Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, President of the CBCN, made this appeal on Sunday during his opening address at the 2024 Second Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops, held at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State.
Archbishop Ugorji, who also serves as the Archbishop of Owerri Diocese, expressed deep concern over the recent kidnapping in Otukpo of Catholic medical students from the Universities of Maiduguri and Jos, who were en route to Enugu. He thanked God for their safe return and praised the security forces and others who contributed to their release, acknowledging that insecurity remains a significant challenge in the country.
He emphasized that the current economic crisis has led to widespread poverty and suffering, which has driven young people to organize a nationwide protest under the banner “Endbadgovernance.”
“The protest was born out of the disappointment and frustration felt by many Nigerians,” Ugorji noted. “While Nigerians have the constitutional right to voice their grievances through peaceful protest, there was widespread concern that the demonstration could be hijacked by miscreants to cause chaos.”
Archbishop Ugorji also criticized the actions of some security operatives who, instead of protecting citizens during the protest, resorted to threats, intimidation, and blackmail to discourage the youths from their planned demonstration. He noted that despite these obstacles, the protest began peacefully but later turned violent in some areas, particularly in the North. He condemned both the violent actions of some protestors and the alleged killings of protestors by security forces.
“We must continue to acknowledge the youth’s protests as long as poverty, hardship, and corruption persist in our nation, and as long as the future of our young people remains uncertain,” he stated.
On the issue of Nigeria’s increasing debt burden, the CBCN urged the government to block financial leakages and boost its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to manage its affairs more effectively.
“The removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the Naira have triggered skyrocketing inflation, plunging many Nigerians into abject poverty,” Ugorji warned.
Earlier, in a Holy Mass to mark the beginning of the conference, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia urged elected officials to prioritize the welfare of citizens over personal interests.
“Elected officials must focus on serving the people, not on self-interest,” Dunia said.
He also encouraged the Catholic faithful in the diocese to view the bishops’ visit to Auchi as a blessing to the community.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, the highest decision-making body of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, holds its plenary meetings twice a year to discuss matters concerning the Catholic faith and society. (NAN)
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