Precious Oham
The Catholic bishops under the aegis of Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province have thrown their support behind the planned August 1st protest by some Nigerians.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting of the Catholic Bishops in Akure on Tuesday, jointly signed by Most Rev ‘Leke Abegunrin and Most Rev John Oyejola, Chairman and Secretary respectively.
According to them, government have failed to provide lasting solutions to the issues that has bedeviled the country which has result to the use of protest as the last resort for citizens to seek solutions.
They called on the protesters to exercise restraint while expressing their grievances and not disturb or intimidate others who choose not to participate.
The Bishops urged the government across all levels to promptly attend to the yearnings of Nigerians by providing permanent solutions to the challenges in the country.
The communique read in part, “Protests should cause no consternation in any normal democratic setting because the right of protest is guaranteed in true democracies all over the world. Protests are organised to draw the attention of governments and authorities to the opinion or demands of people or groups in society. In Nigeria, the impending protest has raised a furore of opinions regarding its legitimacy and expediency.
“Many believe that the protests are not a 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.”