Politics

Catholic Bishops Warn Nigeria Against Facing Severe Crisis

Published by Tope Fakinlede on August 26th, 2024.

Catholic Bishops Warn Nigeria Against Facing Severe Crisis

On Sunday, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) expressed deep concern over the current state of the nation, labeling Nigeria as being “on a ticking time bomb” under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.

The bishops criticized the ongoing issues of poverty, hardship, and corruption, predicting that these problems would likely lead to further protests. They also voiced serious apprehension about the nation’s rising debt, noting that efforts to address budget deficits, such as removing fuel subsidies and floating the naira, have led to significant economic reforms under the current administration.

Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, the President of the CBCN and Archbishop of Owerri, highlighted these issues in his opening address at the 2024 second Plenary Assembly of the CBCN in Auchi, Edo State. Ugorji emphasized that while some progress has been made in various sectors, the nation’s overall condition remains troubling. He pointed to the recent #EndBadGovernance protests as a clear indication of public frustration, despite the potential risk of these protests being exploited by malicious actors.

The bishops strongly condemned the violence against protesting youths by security forces, calling for justice for the victims and support for their families. They urged that the root causes of the protests—poverty, corruption, and bleak prospects for the youth—must be addressed rather than deflecting blame.

Ugori criticized attempts to suppress protests and questioned whether such actions are meant to undermine citizens’ democratic rights or falsely present a facade of stability. He described these tactics as unacceptable and disconnected from the real issues facing the country.