Nigeria @ 64: A Call For Sober Reflection, Poverty Alleviation, Not Celebration -Archbishop Adewale
By Sunday Etuka, Abuja
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins has called on the nation’s political leaders, across board, to work towards alleviating the hardship in the country.
Archbishop Martins made the call on the occasion of the nation’s 64th Independence celebration, according to a statement on Monday by the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu.
He said, there was a need for those elected into leadership positions in the country to wake up to the reality that Nigerians are going through an economic hardship, unprecedented since the country’s independence in 1960.
The Archbishop said that government at all levels owe the citizens the responsibility of providing a conducive environment for their businesses to thrive and secure their lives and property so that they can afford the basic necessities of life and provide quality healthcare for their families.
Going down memory lane the prelate noted that successive governments, since independence, have failed to lead the nation in the direction of steady and sustainable development. So, we do not yet have a nation where no man is oppressed, where even though tribe and tongue may differ but people are able to stand in brotherhood such that love, peace and justice reign and all citizens are able to thrive.
He said: “As we mark the 64th anniversary of our country’s independence, one cannot but wonder how much is there to celebrate in the face of the many adversities that Nigerians are having to face today. While we thank God that there is not full-blown war, the fact of insecurity and the thriving crimes of kidnapping and banditry is very much with us.
“The hunger in the land has reduced the quality of life of citizens and their dignity as human persons. The hardship that has come as a result of the high cost of petrol and the exchange rate of the naira is being continually heightened by the many kinds of taxes that are being forced on the citizens.
At 64, many parts of the country are still under constant attacks by bandits and kidnappers while corrupt activities have continued unabated. These are very much unacceptable as they negate the very noble principles upon which our country was founded. We are therefore calling on our political leaders to rise up to the challenges of building a strong and virile nation free from corruption, nepotism, ethnicity, and favoritism – a truly progressive country that we all can be proud of,” he said.
Archbishop Martins specifically called on the country’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to pay greater attention to the cries of the struggling masses by addressing the lingering astronomical rise in the cost of living occasioned by the removal of petroleum subsidy and floating of the currency which have further impoverished the people.
According to him: “the best independence anniversary gift that the President can give to Nigerians is to find ways of reducing the pump price of petrol and other products. The President needs to step into the controversies that surround the Dangote refinery and the NNPCL. People had high hopes with the coming of Dangote refineries and so they cannot understand the kind of obstacles that NNPCL seems to be putting on the path of Nigerians getting some relief from their suffering. We call on President Tinubu to weigh in on the controversies and resolve the issues to the benefit of the masses who are bearing the brunt of high and rising cost of living.
The prelate also charged the state Governors to be more proactive in cushioning the high cost of living in their states by ensuring they truly utilize the resources accruable to the states for the good of the citizens rather than continuing to spend on the high cost of governance.
He equally challenged lawmakers to re-examine the existing laws so as to help to reform the operations of the Independent National Electoral Commission so as to make them truly independent and free from all forms of interference. Such reforms, he said would ensure more transparency so that the vote of Nigerians can be the judge of who get elected into positions of governance at all levels.
While wishing Nigerians a happy 64th independence celebration, Archbishop Martins urged the citizens to remain prayerful and law-abiding and continue to make positive contributions towards transforming the socio-economic and political landscape of the country so that it can truly become giant of Africa.
