*Lists subsidy removal, insecurity, naira floating
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Raman Catholic Bishop of Kaduna, Archbishop Man-oso Ndagoso on Wednesday open up on the current country’s situations, saying the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has compounded the hardship Nigerians were facing.
Bishop Ndagoso who made the assertion in an interview after the Ash Wednesday Mass in Kaduna said even though Tinubu did not create the problems, his administration compounded the situation through some of his policies especially the removal of the fuel subsidy.
Fielding questions, Bishop Ndagoso restated that Nigeria has never been as bad as currently being, adding that compulsory fasting had already been imposed on the people even before the commencement of Lenten season, which signified fasting period for the Christian faithful, due to unnecessary hardship.
On message to the government concerning insecurity and hunger in the land, the Bishop said “It’s unfortunate, our country has never been as bad as today. Like I said, we’re beginning the Lenten season with fasting. Fasting is one of the things we emphasise, unity and others in Lenten season”.
“Already Nigerians are fasting but that fasting is imposed on them from without. The fasting, beginning today is the one we decided to do for the love of God and our brothers and sisters. But the compulsory fasting Nigerians we’re in, before today is because of ineffectiveness of our leaders”, describing it as really terrible.
He continued that “I was in village and have seen how Nigerians are suffering for an avoidable things. All of these are due to badly conceived policies. Even though it’s said that Tinubu administration did not create the situation but I think his policies have compounded the problem.
Recounting the areas of problems, Bishop Ndagoso stated that removal of fuel subsidy, floating of naira, insecurity amongst others have heightened the country’s earlier challenging situations.
“One, the removal of the fuel subsidy. For goodness sake, for over 3 decades, Nigerians have lived with subsidy and we didn’t collapse, anyone who really care about Nigeria and want to really correct things could have done it gradually.
“Yes, we want the subsidy to go, but to hasten it the way they did it suddenly, without planning, with nothing on ground? There’s no reason why this couldn’t have been done step by step and in phases.
“Fuel should have been increased from N190 to maybe N30O and later N5OO, with notice, by preparing the minds of Nigerians and put structures in place. And help Nigerians to absolved within two to three years before removing it, would’ve been better by far”, he said.
Given an instance, the Bishop said that “It’ll be destructive to suddenly remove someone who has been addicted to alcoholic consumption for years, for you to say your helping him. It has be a gradual disengagement otherwise the person will be killed. And this is what the federal government has done to Nigeria.
“Removing the subsidy instantly hike the prices of everything. To make matters worse is what they’ve done to free floating of the Naira. Our local currency is close to what use to be Zimbabwe dollars, now, and what happened in Venezuela.
“We’re getting to time where you need a basket full of naira in other to buy a loaf of bread, simply because our leaders have not started properly with well taught out plans.
“And above all, the insecurity we’re living in it. Until something urgent is done about it, even if all other things are address, Nigerians cannot go to farm freely.
I was in village last week Friday/Saturday, with about 53 military men in trucks. Everywhere, I went for Mass, the military has to be on guard. The village I spent two days, that night they enter there and took away 4 people.
“With resources and technology in the 21st century it can help you curb any insecurity. So I’m saying, it’s the ineffectiveness of our leader that brought us to where we are today.
Leaders should take blames and do something about it, than telling Nigerians to make sacrifices, meanwhile Nigerians have seen that their lifestyles have not change. Monies are been syphons and stolen left, right and centre, and people are been bombarded with premises everyday to be patients.
“Many Nigerians have died and many more will die, before u know everybody will die before the promise land. So government has to wake up to do something more they are doing now”, he lamented.
Earlier in his message, the Bishop reminded the people that Lenten season started Wednesday with Ash sign place on head, essentially to prepare them to celebrate the pastoral mystery, namely the agony, death, burial and resurrection of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, “Because without that there would have been no Christianity.
“Therefore the resurrection is actually the heart of Christianity, and therefore as important as its church in other for us to celebrate that cyst of fist, the mother of all fist. “We prepare ourselves spiritually in other for us to be in right mood to be able to do that.
“And therefore we begins it with Ash Wednesday with ashes on top of our forehead to remind us simply that we are mortal, we’re human being and will die.
“Jesus, through God and through man: as a true man, he suffered and died, and rose from the death. And this is what we prefer to celebrate. The message to us as his followers is that as he suffered, died, buried and rose from the death, if we follow his footstep, suffer and carry our cross as he told us that anyone who want to follow up, let him carry he’s or her cross and come after me.
“The message is clear that if we carry our cross and follow his footsteps and take the kinds a of step her took while on earth; suffered for the truth, for just and rights, even if we died and buried, we’ll rise as he rose triumphantly.
“To remind us constantly that this world is not our own, we shall die, we’re just passing through. And that we’re also sinners and there’s need for us to repent.
“That God is love and out of love he created us and redeem us, and out the same love he continue to live with us through the power of holy spirit.
“We too must love Him because love is reciprocal. And St. John told us that if you love God you’ve to also show love to your brothers and sister, and one another human beings created by Him”, he stated.
Talking about fasting in Nigeria, he explained that “In our fasting, if we fast, it should benefits others. I deny myself to help someone who don’t have it. Today In Nigeria, the Il- conceived policies that have made Nigeria to be fasting by force and putting us to be in hunger, are also due to badly implemented policies.
“I’m saying that Nigerians are already fasting due to bad policies initiated by our leaders over many years. People are hungry and suffering. Those who have, should share their proceed with those who have none among you. Doing that meaning returning to to God in love with love.
