- They suggested that the nation’s financial burdens could be eased if politicians returned stolen funds held abroad
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has called for a return to regional government, arguing that the 25-year experiment with a presidential system has failed the country.
Speaking at the opening of their second plenary meeting in Auchi, Edo State, the bishops also highlighted growing concerns over corruption, Nigeria’s mounting debt, and widespread hunger. They suggested that the nation’s financial burdens could be eased if politicians returned stolen funds held abroad.
In his address, CBCN President Archbishop Lucius Ugorji criticized the government’s response to the recent #EndBadGovernance protests. He acknowledged that the demonstrations turned violent but maintained that Nigerians have a constitutional right to peaceful protest.
Ugorji also condemned the recent kidnapping of Catholic medical students in Benue State and expressed deep concern over the state of the nation’s security and socio-economic challenges. He argued that these issues are beyond the reach of economic reforms alone.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s political structure, Ugorji said: “The cost of sustaining our military-imposed presidential system, with its numerous elected officials and support staff, is staggering and unsustainable.”
He added that centralizing resources at the federal level has only fuelled corruption. The archbishop urged a reconsideration of regional governance, suggesting it might offer a more viable path for addressing Nigeria’s persistent challenges.
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