The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has expressed deep concern at the worrisome the state of affairs in the country, noting that Nigeria is sitting on a ticking time bomb.
By Emma Ogbuehi
As long as Nigeria is afflicted with poverty, hardship and corruption, and as long as the future of youths in the nation remains bleak, the country will continue to experience protests.
These were the remarks of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), on Sunday.
The Bishops equally expressed deep concern at the worrisome the state of affairs in the country, noting that Nigeria is sitting on a ticking time bomb.
The clerics also expressed concern about the nation’s growing debt burden adding that servicing huge debts to international monetary agencies while sourcing for funds internally to balance budget deficit has not been helpful to the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
President of the Catholic body, who is the Archbishop of Owerri, and the President of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, stated this in his welcome address at the opening Session of the 2024 second Plenary Assembly of the CBCN taking place in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
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While declaring the Conference open, Ugorji said the future of the nation depends on how the challenges bedeviling the nation are tackled, expressing optimism that trust in God would transform the country.
On the state of 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.
“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 bedeviling 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.”