PATRICK WEMAMBU
John Maxwell, celebrated American Author and Speaker could not have been wrong when he theorized that there is almost no limit to the potentialities of an organization which recruits good people. And raises them up as leaders, while continually developing them.
Little wonder many cognoscenti have pontificated that the trouble with Nigeria is leadership-based.
Juxtapose this with assertions of Chinua Achebe in his 68-page fiction “The trouble with Nigeria,” published 1984 by Heinemann – it becomes clear that the deductions of the aforementioned brilliant polemicists may not be far from the truth.
Which is why the state of the nation warnings of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) that ended its First Plenary Meeting for the year at the CSN Resource Centre, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Durumi, Abuja, last Friday must be treated as very urgent and important.
Rueing that Nigeria is at crossroads owing to worsening socio-economic hardships – the Bishops invited the government to address as a matter of priority the challenges of high cost of living, youth unemployment and insecurity in the land.
Said they; “Our nation still has some serious challenges bordering on harsh socio-economic situation, persistent insecurity across the nation, rising youth unemployment and restiveness. There is high cost of essential goods, including food. Cases of kidnapping and the mindless killing of innocent people still abound.”
X-raying the vexed issue of unity and national integration, the meeting tasked Nigerians to pursue actions that will engender the spirit of national integration. Whereas Nigeria’s diversity should represent strength, not weakness – politicians exploiting religiousity and ethnic jingoism for self-aggrandizement were enjoined to exhibit characteristic features of true statesmanship.
Said their Lordships; “Again, we request our political, religious and traditional leaders to promote the spirit of national integration in the citizenry in order to instill hope and development.
“We demand that those governments that ordered the closure of all schools in some parts of the country, withdraw such order in the light of the rights of the children to education and the multi-religious nature of our society.
“We, as Church, promote integral education, health care and agriculture for individual and national development, and we require the enabling environment to play these roles among others.”
On the hydra-headed monster of insecurity, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration was told; “For the provision of security of life and property in our nation, we urge that governments at all levels deploy high technology, like is already done in some states, to complement the efforts of security agencies for efficient intelligence gathering.
“There is also need for good remuneration for security personnel, better equipping of our security outfits and determination to prosecute crime without fear or favour. We still call on government at all levels to create an enabling environment for job opportunities in an ongoing manner.
“More investment is needed in agriculture to facilitate the involvement of the youth in it and boost provision of food in a sustainable manner. With improved security and safety for farmers, there will be greater production of food and reduction in the escalated cost of food all over Nigeria.”
Clamorously registering its opposition against capital punishment, the revered heads of ecclesiastical provinces in Nigeria reaffirmed the stand of the Catholic Church against the death penalty which was viewed as unacceptable.
Accordingly, therefore, the men of God made a passionate appeal to President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu – especially in the light of the Jubilee Year of Hope – to grant pardon to Mr. Sunday Jackson whose conviction was recently upheld by the Supreme Court.
It would be recalled that the ex-student turned farmer in his 30s was recently condemned to death by hanging by the apex court for defending himself against a Fulani hersdman who was killed in a fight with him when the former invaded and ravaged his farm with cattle.
Deliberating on job opportunities, the Metropolitan Sees highlighted the imperatives of creating enabling environments for job opportunities. The importance of investing more in agriculture to facilitate youth involvement while boosting food production was also canvassed.
Leveraging on the need for prison reforms, improved treatment of inmates, enhanced justice system and decongestion of correctional centers were advocated.
The Local Ordinaries explained; “To improve on the State of our custodial centres, we enjoin the Federal and State Governments to undertake the following: Uphold fundamental rights of inmates, treating them with dignity and adopting non – custodial measures in deserving cases.
“Expedite the dispensation of justice. Decongest the existing correctional centres by granting parole to well-behaved minor offenders. Rehabilitate the existing facilities, and
Construct new correctional centres to ease overcrowding.”
Charging the media as purveyors of hope to resist obsession with reporting bad news at the expense of balanced reportage – which highlights what is happening in the society with equal passion – the meeting admonished the Government and security agencies to see the Media as partners in nation building.
Expatiating on what it described as the Jubilee Year of Hope, the Bishops invited Nigerians and the whole of mankind to reflect on and embrace the virtue of hope which is born of love.
“The Jubilee Year of Hope invites the whole world to a new impetus for renewal. It also presents the Church with a profound opportunity for introspection and renewed commitment to its mission within both the Nigerian and global contexts.
“It serves as a rallying call for renewed catechesis, scriptural literacy, and authentic Christian witnessing, ensuring that the Church remains a beacon of light to the society. In spite of the numerous challenges of the modern times, there is still a firm basis for hope. We are invited to embrace the virtue of hope with the certainty that it does not disappoint,” Nigerians were informed.
On inter-faith collaboration, their Lordships prayed with their Muslim brethren during their Ramadan fasting period which is coinciding with the Lenten season.
It was not all that gloomy as the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration received encomiums for what was described as positive developments in some areas.
These include the reinvigoration of the Petroleum Industry, the rehabilitation of some dilapidated roads and the construction of new ones across the nation, the introduction of the student loan scheme, the new minimum wage, and the reduction in the debt service-to-revenue ratio and the proposal for new tax regime.
Others are the Nigeria Correctional Service Act 2019. It was said to mark a shift from the perception of the prison as a centre for retribution to a correctional facility with focus on reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration.
Just as they appreciated the efforts of some security operatives – who put their lives on the line to fight criminality and put an end to savagery – prayers were offered for healing of the wounded and repose of the souls of the dead.
In conclusion, the meeting invited Nigerians to embark on a journey of renewal, suppplicating for a better Nigeria. And a future of peace, prosperity and righteousness. While counselling the citizenry to demand accountability and insist on good governance, their Lordships recommended everyone working towards a nation where truth, fairness and human dignity reign.
Remarkably, the Bishops after their plenary session succeeded in obtaining an appointment to see President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock in Abuja same day. However, laudable as that appears, it remains to be seen if their prescriptions for turning the country around which was handed over to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be implemented.
