Catholic Bishop urges Tinubu to distribute palliative fairly, ‘it cannot be business as usual’
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
President Bola Tinubu has been urged to ensure fair distribution of the N8,000 fuel subsidy removal largesse to the targeted 12 million households in order to alleviate the suffering of poor and vulnerable Nigerians North and South.
The Auxillary Bishop of Abuja Archdiocese, Anslem Umoren, made the call on the sidelines of the Mass and Charter Presentation ceremony of Serra Club, Garki, Abuja.
“I want to call on the government to do all it planned to alleviate the sufferings of the people, it cannot be business as usual,” he said.
“I don’t want to believe all that I am seeing in the media is true; 12 million households, which data are you using? who is going to benefit from it? we are over 200 million.
“They need to rethink what they are trying to do to make sure that what they are doing will reach out to everyone, otherwise it will be the same as before.”
Umoren encouraged the new officers of Serra Club to adhere to their mandate towards promoting and supporting the vocation.
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Tallen commends Tinubu
Also at the event, former Women Affairs Minister Pauline Tallen applauded the efforts of the federal government to reduce the hardship caused by fuel subsidy removal, according to reporting by Vanguard.
“I want to commend the President for taking that step and also the National Assembly for passing that because the problem created by subsidy is biting everybody hard in Nigeria,” she said.
“With this palliative, it will cushion the effects of what everybody is feeling, especially the low income people.
“So it is highly commendable and very soon the pressure of this will stem down and everybody will enjoy normal life.”
Tallen enjoined members of the club to commit towards promoting the vocation and evangelism for the betterment of the nation.
Justina Avong-Maimagani, the newly installed Serra Club President, reiterated commitment towards promoting evangelism, saying: “Our duty is to make sure that the Church continues growing and members grow spiritually.
“It is not enough to make sure there are labourers in the vineyard, but also ensure that you yourself is worthy and qualified spiritually to do the work.”
She admonished Christians to show love, peace, and tolerance wherever they are.
“A Christian has the duty to peace in the society because our Lord Jesus Christ is peace.
“And that is exactly what He came to do. So you cannot call yourself a Christian and you are not a peaceful person in your home, smaller group and wherever you are.”
Jummai Idonije, a member of the club and former Women Affairs Ministry Technical Adviser, stressed the need for the club to spread its outreach in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other Northern regions to promote religious life and moral standards.