- FG on impromptu action
- Urges all faithful to observe the ongoing Year of Prayer
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province has urged Nigeria’s government at all stratum to turn a new leaf in its approach to tackling issues affecting Nigerians swiftly and efficaciously. The Catholic Bishops gave this charge after their meeting held from Monday, July 28 to Tuesday, July 30 at the Domus Pacis Pastoral Institute, Igoba, Akure as they advised governments at all levels to pay attention to the yearnings of the masses and alleviate their plight.
In a communique entitled, “Groaning in Prayer and Action: Hope shall not die in Nigeria,” signed by its Chairman, Most Rev. ‘Leke Gabriel Abegunrin, Archbishop of Ibadan Archdiocese and Secretary, Most Rev. John Akin Oyejola, Bishop of Osogbo Diocese on Tuesday, the prelates noted that offering palliatives is not a lasting solution to the economic hardship in the country. They wrote, “We strongly urge the Federal, State and Local Governments to promptly attend to the distress call of the Nigerian people and turn a new leaf by responding promptly and effectively henceforth to the problems and distress of Nigerians. “
As we have said in the recent past, governance by palliatives, by intimidation or by hide and seek methods cannot provide a permanent solution to the challenges faced by the country. During this protest therefore, relevant security organisations must show restraint and civility in discharging their duties, and avoid violence and accidental deaths which unfortunately, seem to have characterised past exercises in Nigeria. “As we have said in the recent past, governance by palliatives, by intimidation or by hide and seek methods cannot provide a permanent solution to the challenges faced by the country. During this protest therefore, relevant security organisations must show restraint and civility in discharging their duties and avoid violence and accidental deaths which unfortunately, seem to have characterised past exercises in Nigeria.”
The prelates reaffirmed the constitutional rights of citizens to peaceful protest as a fundamental pillar of democratic governance as well as means of the citizenry expressing their grievances and demanding solutions from their leaders, stressing that this right must be exercised responsibly and peacefully. The statement read in parts, “Protests should cause no consternation in any normal democratic setting because the right of protest is guaranteed in true democracies all over the world. Protests are organised to draw the attention of governments and authorities to the opinion or demands of people or groups in society. “In Nigeria, the impending protest has raised a furore of opinions regarding its legitimacy and expediency.
Many believe that the protests are not a solution to Nigeria’s problems. They are right. Protests are not meant to provide solutions to problems. Protests are held as a last resort for citizens who have cried out for solutions to problems and have not been heeded. Protests are the last resort for amplifying the voice of those who feel oppressed. “The protests in Nigeria should be made to serve that purpose and none other. The protesters should exercise restraint and not disturb or intimidate those who may choose not to participate in the exercise knowing that it is their inalienable right not to do so. Such people should be allowed to go about their lawful business unhindered. The organisers of the protest have therefore, a responsibility to ensure all these or call off the protest.”
The CBCN, Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province stressed that there is interplay between corruption and hunger. According to the high-ranking clerics, the current situation of hunger and deprivation is not as a result of economic poverty, but rather owing to greed, corruption, lack of accountability, lawlessness, indiscipline, selfishness and poor attitude to work. The Bishops stated that at this particular time in the history of the country, when it is being challenged economically, all that is required is for all people to come together to salvage the country. They wrote, “The challenges we face, if we work together, cannot overcome our God-given greatness, drive and courageous spirit. Our challenges and problems come from the bad will and bad conduct of some of us, Nigerians in every walk of life and at every level. “We therefore plead with all Nigerians to show our true, indomitable, sterling, character and salvage this country, because we have no other.
This is not beyond us to do if we all, grandparents, elders, men, women, youth and children begin to give our best wherever we find ourselves. “It is true that where there is ravaging hunger, patriotism can become a rare virtue. However, we must try because we cannot go on wallowing in the current cesspit of corruption and indiscipline. Let us all decide that everybody has a role to play in restoring our country to the path of sanity and order. We therefore call on all agencies of national orientation to take up this task and ginger Nigerians back to the path of righteousness and new life. Righteousness it is said, exalts a nation.” The CBCN, Lagos Ecclesiastical Province learnt its voice to criticising the opening ceremony of the Olympics for mocking the Last Supper with an aped version that featured performers in drag. “We agree that the religious depictions of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” painting with contemporary ideological figures that are clearly offensive to Christianity at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games 2024 in France is shocking and disrespectful.
Sadly, it is a perpetration of deliberate ongoing attempts in Europe and America to repurpose and demean Christian themes without regard for peace loving Christians who practice and profess their religion in peace.” Recalling vividly similar disrespectful depictions and parody of religion and religious themes in Nigeria, the clerics warned that such disrespect for religion and religious themes must not be allowed to take root in the country. Noting that Africans have a great respect for the divine and for religious sentiments, the Bishops asserted that religion, faith and spirituality help people to deal with many fundamental issues of existence and therefore constitute a positive instrument. They emphasised, “It is the abuse and misuse of religion, faith and spirituality that cause harm and must be curbed. Regardless of what we go through as Africans we must never disrespect or thrash religious symbols and sentiments which touch people at the deepest levels of their being.
To do this is to throw our humanising and spiritual values and ideals to the dogs.” The Bishops urged all lay faithful to observe the ongoing Year of Prayer that will snowball into the 2025 Jubilee of Hope which the Holy Father Pope Francis has called on all believers to celebrate. The statement further read in parts, “The Jubilee of hope reassures us of hope in God which does not disappoint us and which will keep us going, even in the toughest times. The year of Prayer on the other hand, reminds us that prayer is an indispensable corollary to all our endeavours and undertakings. “No matter how hard we work or toil, we need God’s blessings to reap the reward we intend. “If Yahweh does not build a house, in vain do its builders toil” (Psalm 127:1).” The prelates urged Nigerians to pray and fast to overcome the very difficult times, stating that it’s only faith in God that can resolve the issues.