IBADAN FEBRUARY 10, 2017 (CISA) –Catholic Bishops of the Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province in Nigeria have called on the government to confront the country’s challenges including insecurity, corruption and a failing economy.
In a statement at the end of their first meeting for 2017 held in oke-ado, Ibadan February 6-7 the bishops condemned what they termed as “the needless loss of life” in the Southern Kaduna crisis.
They said the violent clashes have confirmed an impression that government is relaxed in responding to the needs of some sections of the nation a situation which should not be allowed to take firm root.
“The government exists for all and must never be seen to favor any group or ignore the needs of another. We admonish the government to be more proactive in protecting the life and property of Nigerians,” said the bishops.
The bishops also decried government’s lack of commitment in fighting vices like corruption, improving infrastructure and stabilizing Nigeria’s weakening economy.
“The campaign against corruption seems to be losing steam as convictions are rare and the initial recovery of stolen funds has slowed down. The reform of the power sector is at a standstill with only some parts of Nigeria experiencing better or constant supply of electricity and road infrastructure is not improving much,” they said.
“The freefall of the naira is another force tightening the noose around the neck of ordinary Nigerians, reducing their purchasing power and complicating their woes even further,” said the bishops adding that much more needs to be done in these different sectors.
The prelates further called on the Nigerian government to be more forthcoming with information concerning government, its officials and policies in Nigeria.
“The fiasco that is currently going on about the state of health of President Muhammadu Buhari need not occur if information surrounding the matter had been better managed,” they said and called on the government at all levels to continue to optimize strategies to bring about positive change in the nation.
