Politics
…says protest is guaranteed in democracy
By Anthony Isibor
THE Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, have called on all Nigerians to join in salvaging the nation from its current situation.
The call was made after the meeting held on Monday and Tuesday, 29 – 30 July, 2024 by the bishops comprising Ibadan Archdiocese, Ilorin, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti and Osogbo Dioceses.
According the communique issued by the Bishops after the meeting and signed by Most Rev.‘Leke Gabriel Abegunrin, the Chairman, and Most Rev John Akin Oyejola, it’s Secretary, the current situation of hunger and deprivation is not as a result of economic poverty, but rather due to greed, corruption, lack of accountability, lawlessness, indiscipline, selfishness and poor attitude to work.
They stated that by working together, the challenges bedeviling the nation will not be able to overcome its God-given greatness, drive and courageous spirit.
“Our challenges and problems come from the bad will and bad conduct of some of us, Nigerians in every walk of life and at every level. We therefore plead with all Nigerians to show our true, indomitable, sterling character and salvage this country because we have no other. This is not beyond us to do if we all, grandparents, elders, men, women, youth and children begin to give our best wherever we find ourselves. It is true that where there is ravaging hunger patriotism can become a rare virtue.
“However, we must try because we cannot go on wallowing in the current cesspit of corruption and indiscipline. Let us all decide that everybody has a role to play in restoring our country to the path of sanity and order. We therefore call on all agencies of national orientation to take up this task and ginger Nigerians back to the path of righteousness and new life. Righteousness it is said, exalts a nation.”
Concerning the protest, the bishops noted that it should not be a cause for consternation, especially in a democratic setting because the right of protest is guaranteed in true democracies all over the world.
According to the Bishops, protests are organised to draw the attention of governments and authorities to the opinion or demands of people or groups in the society.
However, in Nigeria, the impending protest has raised furore of opinions regarding its legitimacy and expediency.
“Many believe that the protests are not the solution to Nigeria’s problems. They are right. Protests are not meant to provide solutions to problems. Protests are held as a last resort for citizens who have cried out for solutions to problems and have not been heeded. Protests are the last resort for amplifying the voice of those who feel oppressed. The protests in Nigeria should be made to serve that purpose and none other.
“The protesters should exercise restraint and not disturb or intimidate those who may choose not to participate in the exercise knowing that it is their inalienable right not to do so. Such people should be allowed to go about their lawful business unhindered. The organizers of the protest have therefore a responsibility to ensure all these or call off the protest.
“We strongly believe that if governments in Nigeria at all levels had responded more promptly and effectively to the groans and distress calls of the Nigerian people the current protest would not have gathered momentum. Nigerians have cried out about dire hunger in the land, persistent insecurity, failed promises, dashed hopes, outrageous cost of living and governance, and ineffectiveness of the rule of law in curbing criminality among public officials not to talk of many public officers’ ineptitude with serious national issues. We strongly urge the Federal, State and Local Governments to promptly attend to the distress call of the Nigerian people and turn a new leaf by responding promptly and effectively henceforth to the problems and distress of Nigerians.
“As we have said in the recent past, governance by palliatives, by intimidation or by hide and seek methods cannot provide a permanent solution to the challenges faced by the country. During this protest therefore relevant security organizations must show restraint and civility in discharging their duties and avoid violence and accidental deaths which unfortunately seem to have characterized past exercises in Nigeria,” the communique added.
Tags: Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province
