Open letter to the President: Aftermath of conference of Bishops’ presentation imbroglio at Villa
His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President, C-in-C, Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Presidential Villa,
FCT, Abuja.
Your Excellency,
Open letter to the president
Aftermath of conference of bishops’ presentation imbroglio at villa—–
Sir,
On the surface, the cloud of confusion that enveloped the nation in the past one week following the presentation of that controversial document by the Conference of Bishops to Your Excellency at Villa, and the widespread condemnation that attended it, from the cross section of Nigerians, including this writer, seems to have given way.
But in practical terms, it has not. In-fact, it has set the tone for an unending and intense animosity against the presidency.
The Bishops might have resolved to draw the battle lines. With all intents and purposes, if the pronouncement of Cardinal Onaiyekan a few days ago is anything to go by that the Bishops have already made their presentation and they wouldn’t further engage in any argument with the presidency, it’s crystal clear that they have already drawn the battle line.
Fortunately, the Catholic Christian bloc is one of THE VERY MANY BLOC in Nigeria’s Christendom. To this extent, the Bishops’ stance of enmity and perhaps, declaration of war shouldn’t significantly affect the direction of polls. After-all, they couldn’t stop the victory of the ruling party despite all the challenges, then.
The Conference of Bishops’ characteristically reputed for their antecedent to always “speaking truth to power” have never been so resisted, humbled and outwitted.
Indeed, presently etched in their memory is that they’ve been disrobed and dishonored. They might have therefore resolved to press for vengeance by mobilizing their flocks across the country to move against the ruling party, and more especially against Your Excellency’s re-election bid in the forthcoming polls.
But, the Catholic community’s current population in Nigeria is just about 35 million representing 12.8% of the country’s population of about 242.2 million.
Of this, 2 million or 3 million are perhaps eligible voters. So, technically the Catholic bloc doesn’t have the numbers to significantly skew the votes in favour of the Bishops’ preferred candidate at the polls.
The implication of these statistics is that the Conference of Bishops wouldn’t have that dominant influence to sway the direction of the polls in favour of their candidate, as much as they would try.
Your Excellency, it’s not even guaranteed that the Bishops would be on the same page with larger percentage of their flocks during the polls, after-all, the teeming Catholics faithful across the country are integral part of Nigerian populace who would have benefitted one way or the other through the multifaceted programs that have been rolled out by the government in different sectors, aimed at making life more meaningful and beneficial for the citizenry.
Your Excellency, however the above notwithstanding, it’s incumbent on you Sir, to make spirited and frantic efforts to attract the votes of all eligible voters, more so as the father of all.
Against this backdrop, this writer hereby humbly suggest that the office of the president should move to constitute a very high-powered delegation of current political office holders who are mainly of catholic faith-Senate President-Godswill Akpabio, APC National Chairman-Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, Distinguished Senator Orji Kalu, Governors Peter Mba and Hyacinth Alia, Deputy Speaker, House of Reps-Benjamin Kalu to move with the aim of interfacing and interacting with key personalities amongst the Conference of Bishops like the president of the body, Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso, Bishop Matthew Kukah, Bishop Adewale Martins and perhaps, retired Archbishop Olubunmi Okogie for the purpose of the under-listed:
Making justification why the ruling party resolved to repeat the muslim-muslim ticket for the forthcoming polls which, without any iota of doubt, is the centerpiece of the animosity and intense anger of the Bishops, even, though not listed in their presentation while at the Villa.
Secondly, the delegation should also make frantic efforts to cultivate and seek their cooperation & support for government policies and programs more especially the multidimensional reforms that are already yielding results with foreign reserves account currently stood at ₦52.3 billion, NGX crossing ₦160 trillion mark owing to renewed trust & confidence in the country economy, continual trade surpluses, rebound in oil production with current effort standing at 1.8 million barrel/day.
Other impressive results worthy of presentation to the key Catholics leaders by the government delegation are diverse Social Intervention schemes for the benefit of the middle and lower class, NELFUND disbursement of ₦303.91 billion to 1.63 students across the federation, fiscal reforms that has facilitated humongous monthly FAAC disbursement to state and local governments-a development that has ensured spring of infrastructural developments, improved educational and healthcare architecture, as well as socio-cultural developments across the country.
More importantly, government delegation should emphatically stress the tremendous efforts of government at improving security across the nation and with particular reference made of the recent bold strategic initiative of the president in expanding military formations from eight to twelve with implementation currently on-going, as well as establishment of state police, creation of homeland security, establishment of forest guards and recent significant hike in remuneration of members’ of armed forces.
Your Excellency, as the father of the nation and major custodian of Nigeria power and authority, the whole country remains your constituency.
This underscores the fact that all efforts must be deployed to make every Nigerian, including the Conference of Bishops and their flocks to be on the same page with the government with particular reference to the government policies and programs wholly aimed to make life more meaningful and beneficial for the populace.
Finally, let me also deploy this medium to congratulate Your Excellency on the findings and recommendations of ICPC in respect of phantom PFIPC.
It’s already in the public domain that the presidency has been ABSOLVED of any wrong doings whatsoever, and letting off the hook the hardworking and very resourceful Chief of Staff to the president, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila.
No doubt, this development would traumatize and completely disorganized the opposition camps particularly Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi and their ilk who wanted the head of CoS at all cost with their PREJUDICIAL comments.
For sure, they’re currently in the state of disillusion and despondence with the turnout of event, as their desire was to deploy the results (if negative) to unhorse and undo, as well as move to cast doubt and aspersion on the sincerity, integrity and good intentions of the policies and programs of government.
Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB, ACS, MBA, Bsc)
09077509348,
