Say FG is overwhelmed or unconcerned on the worsening insecurity
Tell INEC to be impartial
Stop mud-slinging, acrimony, arson, votes buying, the clerics enjoin politicians
Catholic Bishops under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) have charged the federal government and all relevant agencies to urgently tackle the worsening insecurity and collapsing national economy in the country, stressing that the future of the nation looks bleak. Urging the federal government to assuage the pains of Nigerians on many fronts, owing to poor governance, the clerics noted that despite promises of the government to combat the insecurity and socio-economic issues, the country has continued to experience persistent surge in cost of living and escalating hardship, coupled with the fact that nowhere is safe. The prelates indicated that the government appears to be either overwhelmed or unconcerned about the frightening rate of insecurity bedeviling the country. Most Rev. (Dr.) Lucius Iwejuru Ugorgi, President CBCN made this assertion at the opening session of the body’s 2023 First Plenary Assembly with the theme, “Citizens’ Participation in Good Governance in Nigeria”, held in the Federal Capital Territory on Sunday. He said, “Insecurity has continued to haunt our nation. The Boko Haram militia, Fulani herdsmen, bandits and unknown gunmen have continued to unleash terror in different parts of the country.
“Nowhere seems safe; highways, homes and even the sacred precincts of worshipping centres. Some of our Church personnel have been victims of abduction and arson. Our people have continued to live in a gloomy atmosphere of fear, and groan with anguished hearts. “Our collapsing national economy worsens the ugly situation. While the value of the Naira continues to decline, the cost of basic commodities, including food items, continues to soar, with serious effects on the lives and livelihoods of our people. “On account of the long-persisting fuel scarcity, Nigerians spend endless hours in long queues under harsh weather conditions, trying to buy fuel at exorbitant prices. The disastrous implementation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) cash swap policy, which resulted in a cash crunch, has added to the ordeal, anger and frustration of the masses. “On account of the hard-biting economic conditions, many of our brothers and sisters are pauperised and go to bed without food. Many of them are resorting to crime and begging to survive. This situation is further compounded by the growing debt burden that is mortgaging our future and the future of generations coming after us. The future of the country looks bleak. “The government seems overwhelmed by the situation, despite its claim that it is on top of the matter.” “The untold and undeserved suffering to which Nigerians have been subjected over the years is a good preparation for us to vote wisely during the forthcoming general elections. The elections, if well conducted, can be a turning point in our political and economic history.
“We, therefore, urge all to play their roles maturely and creditably during the period of the general elections.” The Catholic Bishops called on politicians to stop every form of campaign of calumny and vote buying. They also urged Nigerians not to sell their votes, reminding them of their civic and moral responsibility of voting during elections. Archbishop Ugorji said, “Rather than engage in mud-slinging, acrimony, arson, buying and selling of votes, threats, intimidation and violence, they should focus on marketing their manifestoes as they campaign for votes. Political contests should never be perceived as battlefield encounters or do-or-die affairs. “Any candidate who is prepared to shed blood or to spend huge sums of money to buy votes or to compromise INEC, shows that he or she is seeking political office for pure self-aggrandisement. It stands to reason that no one, who wishes to render selfless service to the public for the common good, will spend huge sums of money to induce those he intends to serve unselfishly.” The prelates urged the citizens to participate actively in the democratic process. Earlier on at the Mass, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja while delivering the homily at plenary meeting urged the lay faithful to vote for credible candidates who have the capacity of bringing positive changes to Nigerians.
He said, “We desire leaders that know the aches and pains of Nigerians; leaders who can transcend narrow religious and ethnic boundaries to work selflessly for the common good of all Nigerians; to lift Nigerians from the condition of strangulating poverty and frustration to better levels. “The theme of our conference reflects the Bishops’ sensitivity to the great desire of the majority out there to shape the political future of this country; a country where, as demonstrated in the murders in Owo, Katsina and Minna, where Fr. Isaac Achi, was burnt to death in the parish house and many others, and now the scarcity and high cost of fuel and the newly invented scarcity of the naira, have heightened a feeling of suspense and uncertainty. Before these daunting challenges, we face two risks: giving in to hopelessness and despair or to compromise our values and end up with leaders who were never intended by God nor elected by men.
“The liturgy of this Sunday is apt for people living in our type of context, for it urges us to be aware of the kind of choices we make in life or even the choices we are about to make because these choices have serious implications for all of us. “With our votes in the coming weeks, we can either choose a reasonable and productive use of power towards unity, security; a good economy, or just abandon our fate in the hands of people who have neither capacity nor conscience. Are we simply, out of sentiments, going to make choices that would diminish or ignore our own good and the good of others and of our country? We Bishops have been unambiguous in condemning the abuse of power and plundering of our rich human and natural resources. While the church remains non-partisan as Pope Francis teaches in Evangelii Gaudium no. 183, she cannot and must not remain on the side lines in the fight for justice.” Archbishop Kaigama expressed concern that Nigeria is deeply divided along religious and ethnic lines despite its National Motto of Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress. The Catholic Bishops demanded the impartiality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging it to live above board as an independent and impartial umpire and ensure that their conduct in the electoral process is beyond reproach in the 2023 general elections. QUOTE On account of the hard-biting economic conditions, many of our brothers and sisters are pauperised and go to bed without food. Many of them are resorting to crime and begging to survive.
This situation is further compounded by the growing debt burden that is mortgaging our future and the future of generations coming after us. The future of the country looks bleak. We desire leaders that know the aches and pains of Nigerians; leaders who can transcend narrow religious and ethnic boundaries to work selflessly for the common good of all Nigerians; to lift Nigerians from the condition of strangulating poverty and frustration to better levels. “With our votes in the coming weeks, we can either choose a reasonable and productive use of power towards unity, security; a good economy, or just abandon our fate in the hands of people who have neither capacity nor conscience. Are we simply, out of sentiments, going to make choices that would diminish or ignore our own good and the good of others and of our country?
