The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), yesterday, described as ‘worrisome’ the state of the nation under President Bola Tinubu, declaring that Nigeria is sitting on a ticking time bomb.

It warned that as long as the issues of poverty, hardship and corruption continue to plague the youths, Nigeria should be ready to contend with more protests. Besides, it expressed grave concern about the nation’s growing debt burden saying, servicing huge debts to international monetary agencies and sourcing funds internally to balance budget deficit led to the economic reforms of President Tinubu, consisting mainly in the withdrawal of fuel subsidies and the floating of naira.

The CBCN President, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, who doubles as the Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, painted the grim state of affairs in the country in his welcome address at the opening Session of 2024 second Plenary Assembly of the (CBCN) at Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

Archbishop Ugorji, while declaring the Conference open, said the future of the nation is dependent on how the challenges bedeviling the nation are tackled but expressed optimism that trust in God will transform our nation.

“On August 4th, 2024, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, enumerated the achievements of his administration. While we recognise that notable progress has been made in some sectors or our national life, we cannot fail to admit that the present state of the nation is worrisome. Insecurity remains one of our major challenges.

“As our national economy continues to decline and continues to reduce millions to a life of multidimensional poverty and untold hardship, the Nigerian youths embarked on a nation wide protest tagged #EndbadGovernance from August 1 to 10.

“The protest was aimed at publicly voicing out their disappointment and frustration on the ills bedeviling the nation. Although Nigerians have the constitutional right to express their grievances through peaceful protests, there was widespread concern it could be hijacked by miscreants.

“Likewise, we condemn in strong terms the killing of some protesting youths by security operatives. We pray for the happy repose of the dead, the speedy recovery of the injured and the consolation of the bereaved.

“We wish to stress that as long as the nation is afflicted with poverty, hardship and corruption, and as long as the future of youths in our nation remains bleak, we will continue to reckon with youth protest. Rather than address the risk of the tide of ill trying to drown the nation, some government officials are busy passing the buck and looking for scapegoats. We are indeed sitting on a ticking time-bomb as security operatives try to crack down on some of those involved and their sponsors on perceived trumped up charges, raising concern whether they are trying to strip citizens of their democratic rights and freedoms to protests or give the impression that everything in the country was fine and there was really no need for the protest. This is delusional and condemnable,” he said.

Harping on the increasing debt burden, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference said: “Millions of vulnerable Nigerians are now trapped in living conditions, which are affront to human dignity. Indeed, for the present and future generations of our people, the debt burden has turned out to be a new form of enslavement, causing pain, despair and death.”

He called for the return of regional system of government to checkmate corruption and put the nation at the right footing, now that it seems the presidential system is no longer working.

“The socio-economic problems of our nation are unmistakably beyond what economic reforms alone can effectively resolve, no matter how well thought-out and how meticulously implemented.

“When all is said and done, we must admit that the cost of running our military imposed presidential system of government with so many elected officials assisted by numerous support staff is staggering and unsustainable.

“We must also acknowledge that the corruption level of many Nigerian politicians have gone beyond scale and measure and that controlling our national resources at the federal level creates more opportunities for corruption to flourish.

“Having experimented on the presidential system of government for over 25 years and having groped in the dark in search of solutions to our socio-economic problems, now seems to be the opportune time to heed the advice of some of our best minds canvassing for our return to the former regional system of government as envisaged by the wise founding fathers of our nation or devolve power to the six geo-political zones.”

Archbishop Ugorji listed the numerous problems bedeviling the nation to include increased debt burden of $2.25 billion loan facility from the World Bank in June 2024 with a repayment period of 40 years and which increased Nigeria’s public debt stock by 2.46 percent to $93.7 billion, multiple taxation, hunger and hardship induced by insecurity, saying that proactive steps must be taken urgently to address the situation before it snowball into a huge crisis.

He, therefore, called on President Tinubu to revisit his economic policies as Nigerians were no longer at ease with them.

In his homily, Gabriel Dunia, Bishop of Auchi Diocese at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Auchi, called on those in authority not to lord it over those who they have been called to serve.

He also said the led must know that they were duty bound to respect those in authority because God has placed them there to lead.

Bishop Dunia said banditry, corruption, and bad governance can come to an end through fasting and prayers, pointing out that the insinuation that God has stopped hearing the prayers of His people was wrong. “God hears prayers and I urge Nigerians to pray more.”

He disclosed that the bishops were in Auchi to pray for the country and that they believe God in His infinite mercy will turn the fortune of the country around for good.