Nigeria ‘sitting on ticking time bomb’ – Catholic bishops

.Says future of Nigeria dependent on how challenges bedeviling her are tackled

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), on Sunday, described as ‘worrisome’ the state of the nation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, declaring that Nigeria is presently ‘sitting on a ticking time bomb’.

The Catholic body of Bishops also warned that as long as the issues of poverty, hardship and corruption continue to be the lots of Nigerian youths, the nation should be ready to contend with more youth protests.

Besides, the body expressed grave concern about the nation’s growing debt burden, saying “servicing huge debts to international monetary agencies and sourcing for funds internally to balance budget deficit led to the economic reforms of Mr President, consisting mainly in the withdrawal of fuel subsidies and the floating of naira.

President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, who doubles as the Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, stated these in his welcome address at the opening Session of 2024 second Plenary Assembly of the (CBCN), holding at Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State on Sunday.

While declaring the Conference open, Archbishop Ugorji said the future of the nation is dependent on how the challenges bedeviling the nation are tackled but however expressed optimism that trust in God will transform the nation.

He said: “On August 4th, President Bola Tinubu enumerated the achievements of his administration. While we recognise that notable progress has been made in some sectors of our national life, we cannot fail to admit that the present state of the nation is worrisome. Even though insecurity remains one of our major challenges.

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“As our national economy continues to decline, the Nigerian youths embarked on a nationwide protest tagged # EndbadGovernance from 1 to 10th August 2024.

“The protest was aimed at publicly voicing their disappointment and frustration on the ills bedevilling the nation. Although Nigeria has the constitutional right to express its grievances through peaceful protests, there was widespread concern it could be hijacked by miscreants.

“Likewise, we condemn in strong terms the killing of some protesting youths by security operatives. We pray for the repose of the dead, the speedy recovery of the injured and the consolation of the bereaved.

“We wish to stress that as long as the nation is afflicted with poverty, hardship and corruption, and as long as the future of youths in our nation remains bleak, we continue to experience protest. Rather than address the ill, trying to drown the nation, some government officials are busy passing the buck and looking for a scapegoat.

“We are indeed sitting on a ticking time bomb as security operatives try to crack down on some of those involved in the protest and their sponsors on trumped-up charges.

“This raises concerns about whether they are trying to strip citizens of their democratic rights and freedoms to protest or give the impression that everything in the country is fine and there was really no need for the protest. This is delusional and condemnable.”

On the nation’s increasing debt burden, Archbishop Ugorji said “millions of vulnerable Nigerians are now trapped in living conditions, which are affront to human dignity. Indeed, for the present and future generations of our people, the debt burden has turned out to be new form of enslavement, causing pain, despair and death”.

He called for the return of regional system of government to checkmate corruption and put the nation at the right footing, now that it seems that the present system of government is no longer working, adding “The socio-economic problems of our nation are unmistakably beyond what economic reforms alone can effectively resolve, no matter how well thought-out and how meticulously implemented.

“When all is said and done, we must admit that the cost of running our military imposed presidential system of government with so many elected officials assisted by numerous support staff is staggering and unsustainable.

“We must also acknowledge that the corruption level of many Nigerian politicians have gone beyond scale and measure and that controlling our national resources at the federal government level creates more opportunities for corruption to flourish.

“Having experimented on the presidential system of government for over 25 years and having groped in the dark in search of solutions to our socio-economic problems, now seems to be the opportune time to heed the advice of some of our best minds canvassing for our return to the former regional system of government as envisaged by the wise founding fathers of our nation or devolve power to the present six geo-political zones”.

President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference listed the numerous problems bedeviling the nation, to include increased debt burden of $2.25 billion loan facility from the World Bank in June 2024 with a repayment period of 40 years and which increased Nigeria’s public debt stock by 2.46 percent to $93.7 billion, multiple taxation, hunger and hardship induced by insecurity, saying that proactive steps must be taken urgently to address the situation before it snowball into a huge crisis.

He therefore called on president Bola Tinubu to revisit his economic policies as Nigerians are no longer at ease with them.

Earlier in his homily, Bishop of Auchi Diocese at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Auchi, Bishop Gabriel Dunia, called on those in authority not to lord it over those whom they have been called to serve.

He also said that the led must know that they are duty bound to respect those in authority because God has placed them there to lead.