By Teddy Nwanunobi
Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Mathew Kukah, yesterday, told President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to urgently address the economic hardship in the country, saying Nigerians are hungry.
Kukah spoke at the unveiling of The Progressive Institute, a brainchild of the Abdullahi Ganduje-led National Working Committee, NWC, in Abuja.
He also appealed to the federal government to consider reducing the cost of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, which was recently hiked, leading to long queues of motorists across various filling stations.
“I once asked a girl if she is in the APC, PDP or Labour, and she said, ‘I am hungry.’ And so, since I am speaking to those who are in power, please know that we, Nigerians, are hungry.
“Find a way of reducing the price of fuel. Find a way of keeping our country secure. That will be the greatest legitimacy of any government.
“I will always honour the invitation of every political party. Even if it is APC, PDP or LP that calls me, I will go. I am a twin. Our grandmother used to say the mother of twins cannot afford to sleep on one side. By virtue of being a priest, people say I am a politician. I am not a politician, but I am political.
“I am concerned about the quality of democracy and politics in Nigeria. I therefore made the point that there is a growing fear that as soon as our leaders are elected, marabouts, spiritualists, ritualists and all kinds of people hide behind the throne of power.
“So, rather than being guided by science, major decisions are taken through the necromancy of illiterates, who are seated somewhere chewing kola nuts and doing nothing with their lives, except projecting on what is going to happen. This is why I think this Progressives Institute is important because we need to move towards science,” he noted.
But the Nasarawa State APC Chairman, Aliyu Bello, said those criticising Tinubu are not different.
“Yes, there is hunger in the land. President Tinubu is working on it. This is because, for every problem, there must be a solution. By the grace of God, the solution is coming through the APC, not through any other person.
“This is because those who are talking are also not different from Tinubu,” Bello said.
In his keynote, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma, justified Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the naira.
The Imo State governor also explained that the problems that came with the reforms were temporary and would soon give way to stability.
“These reforms are necessary. In addition, we have invested N20 billion in an intervention fund to address urgent issues and other emergency policies that will improve food security, such as the duty waiver on food items, as well as the distribution of fertilisers across the country.
“These initiatives represent the practical application of progressive principles. We believe in an active government working for the betterment of all citizens and dedication to creating opportunities for Nigerians to reach their full potential,” Uzodimma added.
