Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider the concerns raised by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria over the country’s economic and security challenges.
Kalu described the Catholic bishops as the conscience of the country, saying their observations were intended to help the government improve rather than criticise it.
NPO reports that the former Abia State governor made the remarks while reacting to the recent meeting between President Tinubu and the leadership of the Catholic Bishops Conference at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
During the meeting, the bishops expressed concern over the rising cost of living, insecurity and the worsening economic conditions facing many Nigerians.
“To me, the Catholic bishops are the conscience of the country. Once they give advice, their advice is not for or against anybody.”
“Their advice is for any sitting president or leader to see things the way they should be.” Kalu said.
The senator acknowledged that Nigerians were facing economic hardship but argued that the challenges could not be blamed solely on the Tinubu administration.
According to him, the government has recorded progress in stabilizing the macroeconomy, although many Nigerians are yet to experience improvements in their daily lives.
“There is difficulty in Nigeria, there is no doubt. And it is not the fault of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
“We have been able to capture the macroeconomy, and the micro is where we are having problems.”
Kalu said the bishops had a duty to present the realities on the ground to the president, noting that their assessment would be more objective than those of politicians or government officials.
“Even if we politicians are lying to him and saying things are good everywhere, the Catholic bishops can never say that,” he said.
He urged those working closely with the president to carefully study the bishops’ recommendations and implement policies that would address the concerns they raised and improve the welfare of Nigerians.
Kalu also clarified that the archbishop emeritus of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, is not the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.
“I want to correct one thing. Cardinal Onaiyekan is not the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference. And people are making mistakes on that,” he said.
