By CSN Media
The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria, to urgently address the ever deepening poverty and growing youth unemployment among the people, because an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.
Archbishop Ugorji made the appeal as part of his welcome address during the official opening ceremony for the second 2023 CBCN plenary assembly at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja on Sunday, 10 September, 2023.
The CBCN President who appealed to the government to drastically cut down the cost of running its affairs, observed that with recent appointment of so many federal ministers into the Federal Executive Council, the President gives the impression that he is disdainful and insensitive to the economic pain of the masses.
“By substantially increasing the cost of running government through recent appointment of so many Ministers and thereby having the largest Federal Executive Council since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999, the President gives the impression that he is disdainful and insensitive to the economic pain of the masses.”
Commenting on the outcome of the 2023 General elections in the country, Archbishop Ugorji decried that despite the reassurances by INEC to deliver credible, free and fair elections, that elections fell short of the people’s legitimate expectations, as well as moral and legal standards, because the confidence of the citizens in 2023 electoral process was eroded by many pitfalls and irregularities evident before, during and after the elections.
“Despite the reassurances by the INEC to deliver credible general elections in 2023, the elections fell short of the people’s legitimate expectations, as well as moral and legal standards. The confidence of the citizens in 2023 electoral process was eroded by many pitfalls and irregularities evident before, during and after the elections. Many national and international observers have already pointed out, the general elections were flawed by threats, intimidation, violence, the spilling of blood, poor logistics arrangement, inducement, impunity as well as the lack of transparency, manipulation of results, abuse of power of incumbency, alleged ‘glitches’ and outright rigging.”
While maintaining that insecurity remains a major problem in the country, the Cleric observed that armed bandits, unknown gunmen, fulani herdsmen and Boko haram militias, continue to terrorise the populace and the incessant sit-at-home order by issued by non-state actors in the South-East has further compounded the woes.
He appealed to the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the African Union (AU) to resist the temptation of military intervention as a solution to the leadership crisis in some African countries that recently experience military coup, but should rather, continue to explore more peaceful options of diplomatic negotiations.
On her part, the Chairman of the occasion, Dame Adaora Nwokoye, observed that the conference is coming at a time when the world world is witnessing excruciating hardship, youth restiveness, unemployment and hunger and called for immediate collaboration between the church, citizens and the government in order to reverse the ugly trend.
The Chairman while observing that in recent times, all national and political issues in Nigeria have always been discussed and interpreted along ethnic and religious lines, which promotes divisive tendencies instead of uniting us, commended the Catholic Church through the effort of the CBCN for always preaching peaceful coexistence and proper management of our diversity.
“You resolutions and communique are therefore highly awaited, to guide our leaders and all of us through these many challenges our country is currently facing, you have always provided the moral compass needed to alleviate this troubled waters in which our nation has been sailing for many decades now.”
She appreciated the Mother Church for always standing for the truth, equity and fairness in a society were love and care for humanity is now being replaced with hate, selfishness and greed, and advised that the resolution and communique from the conference, would be used by policy makers to promote national unity and cohesion.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, now on transfer to Poland after 6 years in Nigeria, in his remark, ceased the opportunity of the gathering to thank the Bishops and the entire people of God in Nigeria.
The Papal envoy however, acknowledged that the Church in Nigeria is indeed enriching and complex. Thus, while he did his best, noted that there are still so much that needs to be done.
The ceremony, which started with the enthronement of the Bible by the Catholic Archbishop of Calabar, Most Rev. Joseph Ekuwem, also entertained goodwill messages from the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Prelate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican communion.
