Why FG Should Not Continue To Ignore Advice – Catholic Bishops

Posted by Nwa Diokpa Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria Saturday, May 8th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) says Nigeria will “become ungovernable” if the federal government continues to ignore criticisms and recommendations.

The clergies disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday as they tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to address the country concerning his effort in tackling insecurity.

The statement, which was signed by Augustine Akubeze, president of CBCN, said Nigerians want to “directly hear” from Buhari — and not presidential spokespersons.

The clergies also tasked Buhari to convene a national conference geared towards implementing restructuring and devolution of power.

“In Nigeria, the Catholic Church wants the Federal Government to call for a meeting of all stakeholders to have a sincere discussion on the way forward,” the statement read.

“Such discussions must seek how to implement the much talked about restructuring and devolution of power down to the local government level.

“No government leader should watch the breakdown of law and order in Nigeria. It is our collective obligation to make Nigeria successful.

“Presidents of countries grant interviews to the media who are the watchdogs of democracy. But in Nigeria, we hardly hear directly from our President.

“Most of the time, we hear from ‘the Presidency.’ Nigerians did not elect presidential media spokespersons. Nigerians do want to hear directly from their President and hear words that are matched with actions.

“To every religious leader, let us not use inflammatory words that distort the real message we are sending to this government.”

The bishops also disclosed that Nigeria stands on a precipice, saying that the government should accept constructive criticism and suggestions on how to move the country forward.

“We must be united in the fight for our common destiny as a people. It must be clearly stated to the Federal Government that if they continue to ignore the constructive criticisms and recommendations of Nigerians from every sector, the country will collapse and become ungovernable,” they said.

“We are speedily getting there. Police stations are being burnt, our gallant military men and women are being killed, barracks are attacked, IDP camps are attacked, farmlands are invaded, youth unemployment is at its highest, private sectors are not giving enabling environment to thrive, and appointments to offices are not reflective of our diversities; the complaints are almost endless — could the sounds signaling a collapsing nation be louder than this?

“Every reasonable Nigerian is sick to the stomach to read or hear of a governor running from insurgents who want to kill him in the state where he is constitutionally the chief security officer.

“Nigerians are tired of hearing bandits taking youths in the university and executing some of them, while others are kept to be used to bargain for ransom.

“The insecurity is leading to a daily loss of lives and properties in every part of the country. These facts are indisputable.”

The bishops also frowned at the spate of abduction of students by bandits.