Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and Archbishop of Owerri, has urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his economic policies, saying they have not been beneficial to Nigerians.
Speaking at the opening session of the 2024 Second Plenary Assembly of the CBCN in Auchi, Edo State, Ugorji expressed concern that the current economic policies have caused more harm than good. He noted that these policies alone cannot solve the country’s deep-seated socio-economic problems.
Ugorji suggested that the policies seemed ineffective and proposed returning to a regional system of government. He believes this change could help reduce corruption and better address the nation’s issues. He argued that the cost of maintaining the current presidential system, with its numerous elected officials and support staff, is too high and unsustainable.
The Archbishop also pointed out that corruption among Nigerian politicians has become severe. He suggested that managing national resources at the federal level creates more opportunities for corruption. He called for a shift back to a regional government system or devolving power to the six geo-political zones, as initially proposed by the nation’s founding fathers.
Ugorji acknowledged some achievements mentioned by President Tinubu in his August 4 speech but emphasized that the state of the nation remains troubling. He highlighted several problems, including a new $2.25 billion loan from the World Bank, which increased Nigeria’s public debt to $93.7 billion.
He also mentioned issues like excessive taxation, hunger, and hardship due to insecurity. He stressed that urgent action is needed to prevent these issues from escalating into a larger crisis.
Most Rev. Fr. Gabriel Dunia, Bishop of Auchi Diocese, urged leaders to serve their people with humility and respect. He emphasized that corruption and poor governance could be overcome through fasting and prayer.
Dunia disagreed with the idea that God has stopped listening to prayers, asserting that while God does hear prayers, more effort is needed. He reassured that the bishops are in Auchi to pray for the country and believe that God will eventually improve the nation’s situation.
