By Wesley Omondi
AUCHI, AUGUST 28, 2024 (CISA)— The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has called on President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his economic policies, stressing that they have caused widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians.
Speaking during the 2024 Second Plenary Assembly of the CBCN in Auchi, Edo State, Archbishop Ugorji expressed concerns that the President’s economic reforms, though well-intentioned, have exacerbated the country’s socio-economic challenges.
“Many Nigerians are deeply unhappy with the current economic policies,” Archbishop Ugorji stated, highlighting the growing discontent across the nation.
Archbishop Ugorji further noted that the problems facing Nigeria extend beyond what economic policies alone can address, regardless of how well they are designed or implemented. He argued that the nation’s issues are more deeply rooted and require a comprehensive approach that includes political and social reforms.
“The socio-economic challenges we face cannot be resolved by economic policies alone; there are deeper issues at play,” the Archbishop emphasized.
In a bold suggestion, Archbishop Ugorji proposed that Nigeria should consider returning to a regional system of government. He believes that such a system could be more effective in curbing corruption and addressing the fundamental issues that the current presidential system has failed to resolve. He also pointed out the high costs associated with the current system, which includes numerous elected officials and their support staff, as unsustainable.
“It may be time to revisit the regional system of governance to better address our national issues,” Ugorji suggested.
Reflecting on the last 25 years of Nigeria’s experiment with the presidential system, Archbishop Ugorji noted that it might be time to either return to the regional system envisioned by the nation’s founding fathers or to devolve more power to the six geopolitical zones. He believes that such a shift could lead to more effective governance and reduce the opportunities for corruption that have plagued the current system.
“We must consider a return to regional governance or devolution of power to ensure better management of our resources,” he stated.
While acknowledging some of President Tinubu’s achievements, as mentioned in his August 4th speech, Archbishop Ugorji expressed deep concern over the state of the nation. He highlighted several pressing issues, including Nigeria’s increasing debt burden, which has risen to $93.7 billion following a $2.25 billion loan from the World Bank in June 2024.
The archbishop also pointed to the challenges of multiple taxation, widespread hunger, and the worsening hardship caused by ongoing insecurity.
“Despite some successes, the state of our nation remains deeply troubling, with growing debt and increasing hardship,” Ugorji warned.
In a related message, Rt Rev Gabriel Dunia, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi , urged those in positions of power to lead with humility and to serve the people, rather than dominate them. He also reminded the citizens of their duty to respect authority, noting that leaders are placed in their positions by God.
“Leaders must govern with humility, and citizens must respect authority as it is ordained by God,” Bishop Dunia advised.
Bishop Dunia also emphasized the power of fasting and prayer in overcoming Nigeria’s challenges, including banditry, corruption, and poor governance. He rejected the notion that God no longer hears the prayers of Nigerians, reaffirming the bishops’ commitment to praying for the nation’s future and trusting in God’s mercy to bring about positive change.
“Through fasting and prayer, we can overcome the challenges facing our nation, and we trust in God’s mercy to guide us,” concluded Bishop Dunia.
