The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, which includes representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was sworn in on May 29, to prioritize the security concerns and economic struggles of the people of God in the West African nation.
“Nigeria is facing a number of challenges that require strong and decisive leadership,” Rev. Daniel Okoh said on May 29, adding: “From security concerns to economic struggles, it is clear that there is much work to be done in order to ensure that Nigeria can reach its full potential.”
Earlier, the Catholic bishop of the country’s Sokoto Diocese called upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to identify what is behind the “scars, wounds, and injuries” of Nigerians even as he prioritizes their healing.
Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, who was speaking at the 2023 presidential inauguration lecture held in Abuja on May 27, lamented: “We have so many of our citizens who have lost their lives and a lot who are in captivity.”
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The vocal Nigerian Catholic bishop said that the “worst thing that can happen to us is to pretend that everything is okay because everything is not okay.”
The West African nation has been battling a surge of violence orchestrated by gangs, whose members carry out indiscriminate attacks, kidnapping for ransom, and in some cases, murder.
The country since 2009 has experienced an insurgency of Boko Haram, a group that allegedly aims at turning it into an Islamic nation.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA’s African news partner. It has been adapted by CNA.
Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.