Expressing concern at the declining state of the nation, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, represented by the members of the Administrative Board of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), paid a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on Wednesday January 11, 2023, to relate the plight of the masses. Led by Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), the body presented an eight-paragraph message to the President in which they lamented “the sad state of insecurity in the land, which has consumed thousands of innocent Nigerians across all regions, creeds and ethnic groups.” They complained that “Our Church personnel have been frequent victims in terms of kidnapping or outright murder. The Owo – Ondo State Catholic Church massacre on Pentecost Sunday, June 5th, 2022, is still very fresh in our hearts,” and urged the President in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief, “to make sure that our nation is effectively rid of these murderous criminals.”
Additionally, the Catholic Prelates decried the unfortunate state of the nation’s economy which they said “has been put under serious stress by both internal and external negative forces, which has had serious adverse effect on the lives and livelihood of the average Nigerian.” While blaming the deplorable economic conditions in the nation on the growing foreign debt burden, the Bishops counselled that “with better political and economic management, Nigerians have both the resourcefulness and spirit of hard work to turn things around.” “In particular, the many loopholes and leakages of endemic corruption still need to be sincerely and adequately addressed, if our economy is to recover,” they suggested. In spite of the overwhelming woes in the nation, the Catholic Bishops still commended President Buhari for his efforts in improving the electoral system and processes, especially in signing the electoral bill into law. They however urged him not to relent “in making sure that INEC and other relevant agencies of government carry out their serious duties to conduct peaceful, free, fair and credible elections.”
This they said is “the hope of most Nigerians that the forthcoming 2023 elections will be a watershed in the political history of Nigeria. Let our hopes not be dashed.” The Bishops concluded their message to the President by expressing their sincere goodwill to him and those with whom he shares the burdens and dignity of his high office, reiterating their deep confidence that with God’s grace and help, they will lead the nation to a much higher level within the remaining last months of their tenure.
