Catholic and Anglican Bishops have lent their voices to the current issues facing Nigerians. In separate meetings which held in Kaduna and Abuja respectively, the two bodies in separate statements, made their positions on current political and governance issues known.
The Catholic clerics called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the issue of fuel subsidy removal and other pressing concerns facing the country. The clerics made this appeal after the second plenary session of the Catholic Bishops of Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province in Kaduna, urging him to prioritize the welfare of the Nigerian people.
Meanwhile, the Anglican Bishops condemned the Nigerian government’s handling of the recent protests against bad governance. In a statement, the bishops expressed their disappointment with the government’s response to the demonstrations, which they believe has been heavy-handed and insensitive to the concerns of the citizens.
The protests, which have been ongoing for several weeks, were sparked by the government’s decision to remove fuel subsidies, leading to a sharp increase in fuel prices. The move has been met with widespread criticism from various sectors of society, including religious leaders, civil society organizations, and the general public.
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The Anglican Bishops have called on the government to engage in meaningful dialogue with the protesters and address their grievances in a transparent and accountable manner. They have also urged the government to respect the rights of citizens to peaceful assembly and protest, as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.
Speaking on the issue, the Anglican Bishops said “We strongly condemn the killing of some protesters by the security agents and call for the training and retraining of our security forces on the acceptable standards of engagement in matters like this.
“We urge the government to quickly sit down, seriously discuss the demands of the protesters, and come out with immediate, short-term, and long-term measures to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians.”
The Catholic clerics, on the other hand, have emphasized the need for the government to prioritize the welfare of the people and ensure that the benefits of economic reforms are equitably distributed. They have also called for the implementation of policies that will create jobs and alleviate poverty in the country.
As the protests continue, it remains to be seen whether the government will heed the calls of religious leaders and address the concerns of the people. The outcome of this situation will have significant implications for the future of Nigeria and its citizens.