The Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to retool and lead by example on all fronts or risk plunging Nigeria into a state of despondency.
In a statement by the Director of Social Communications of the Diocese, Monsignor Gabriel Osu, Okogie accused the president of acting disdainfully towards the judicial authorities while millions of Nigerians are abandoned to face unimaginable social problems.
Okogie said, “He (Buhari) must retool, refocus and aggressively face the social, economic (fiscal and monetary) problems we have head-on, without letting the anti-corruption drive look like a political distraction.
“A snail-paced and disordered methodology in governance, his apparent disdain for judicial authorities and decisions, a lost today and found tomorrow 2016 Budget debacle, and a rather rudderless and confused Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with an unclear monetary policy strategy (inevitably increasing the economic uncertainties being faced by Nigerians), have set alarm bells ringing in my mind and in the minds of many discerning Nigerians.
“Indeed, his perceived discordant relationship with the leadership of the Legislature has many naysayers chuckling and remarking that President Buhari’s government is heading into his comfort zone, a one man show.”
Okogie also noted that “a lot of Nigerians are beginning to feel that Buhari is fast transforming this nation into a police state where the president, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Security (DSS) rule the day.
“What they say is given lurid headlines in the media, and it seems to all that some of the defendants cum accused persons are being tried in the press with information conveniently slipping into the hands of the press, presumably from the security agencies, even before such people have been charged to court.”
Frowning at the President’s refusal to heed the court pronouncements on the bail granted to the Director of Radio Biafra and Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) the eminent cleric said: “The pro-Biafran activist, Nnamdi Kanu and the erstwhile NSA, Sambo Dasuki, were granted bail by the courts but such bails were disregarded by the security agents under Buhari’s watch.
“Unfortunately, democracy is difficult and this government must realise that democracy pervasively coloured with impunity, arbitrariness and highhandedness, cannot be used to fight and correct the financial impunity and reckless abandon of the previous administration, even if it is more difficult to do so; the rule of law must be obeyed and be the order of the day.
“If Buhari wants to leave a creditable legacy come 2019, he should retool the bureaucracy. For instance, the roof of the Central Bank is leaking water.
“Governors, who arm-twisted Okonjo-Iweala into signing out our reserves held by Central Bank, are today ministers in the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
“We are still talking about change and corruption when old things refuse to pass away! These political gimmicks can only carry away gullible or naive Nigerians. President Buhari should beam his flashlight on policies and programmes that will lift up the masses.
“Existing industries are almost dead and they call for urgent revitalisation. The budget ought to aid solutions to the mass unemployment, rural-urban migration, skewedness in the distribution of income, abject rural poverty and industrialisation of rural economy.
“The 774 local government capitals should be linked to their state capitals. Even the mindboggling infrastructure deficits can take the entire tenure to address.”
“The weakness in the bureaucracy has not been addressed. The problem the APC government is trying to solve is bound to re-occur because it is treatment of effect rather than the cause,” he said, adding that causative factors are being totally ignored or glossed-over while institutional weakness pervades the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs), offices of the Accountant-General, Auditor-General and the Central Bank.”
Irked by the continuous change mantra, Cardinal Okogie said: “Our Change must change something. How could we continue to talk of change in a static system? How could we be talking of change when the same crew are governors, ministers, senators, and members of the House of Representatives? This is a cyclical devolution of power to the same people who are never out of power!
“What sort of change is the President talking about? When will the youth take over when even a governor does not take a bow and go? When shall we plan for the replacement of delinquent leadership? This is what constitutes change. Change is not changing from Jonathan to Buhari.”
Continuing, he said: “Change is behavioural and pervades all levels of society including the family, the church, the mosque, schools, market women and business men. When we talk of change, we talk of positive-salutary, healthy growth and development oriented change that cuts across the entire gamut of the society.
“What sort of change is this that ignores the glaring unequal distribution of national income? It is absurd that the same government that is unable to pay N18,000 per month to the lowest grade of labour can afford to pay N1.8 million per month to anyone in the economy. Why must tax payers’ money be used to feed Mr. President and his family?
“Why must the tax payers’ money be used to buy brand new exotic vehicles for the legislature, judges, ministers and governors when they are heavily paid?
“Why don’t they use loan finance or mortgage finance to buy their cars and houses? This is also a form of looting and it is the cause of grounding the economy and calling in an IMF spin-doctor all the time.
“Precisely two years ago this same President Buhari rejected off-hand this use of a spin doctor to heal the ailing economy. He preferred the use of counter-trade and inward looking policies like cutting down costs and flamboyant exotic life styles.
“Today, I am not so sure we have the same Buhari. I do hope he has not changed all the colours of the rainbow. The ruling elites are living a luxurious lifestyle while the masses are in abject poverty and yet we are all Nigerians. Enough of this change-conundrum,” Okogie warned. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
thank you Bishop u have said it all
ReplyDelete.Ameachi forced the former minister of finance to share the excess crude account reserve then he was in pdp and now he is in APC leaving comfortably as a minister and the country is broke . what an irony
ReplyDelete....why will a man of God support Corruption???? which bible is this man preaching????EFCC will soon publish the names of thise that received money for prayers!!!
ReplyDeletefool, he didnt support corruption. read and understand simple English language. Abi you be mallam too, like the president????
DeleteTell Him His Eminence. When the voice of God's True servant sounds it is as clear as that of Angel's trumpet.It bring direction and hope. This is not like Fr Ejike Mbaka's political fake prophesy of Doom.
ReplyDeleteBecause you like his stance, both are pastors.
DeleteThere is a saying that he comes to equity must come with clean hands. You who accuse the ruling class of living flamboyant exotic lifestyle, what type of vehicle do you drive? Were most of them not given as 'gifts' to members of your laity class by the same political class you accuse of impropriety? Politics should be left for politicians. It should not be mixed with religion. Even Jesus when being compeld to be made a š turned down the offer and literally absconded from the scene. Religious leaders should mind their spiritual calling
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 2.51pm sorry to say you don't know cardinal okogie assumming you knew him very well u ll never say such thing he is som1 giving a navigator suv bt it was sold n the money to the charity in 1995/96 and also he only ride mercedez 200 shagari type n nissan pathfinder next time try to get cue not just commenting
DeleteThis is the Cardinal I know.
ReplyDeleteSpeak out the more.
''A snail-paced and disordered methodology in governance, his apparent disdain for judicial authorities and decisions, a lost today and found tomorrow 2016 Budget debacle, and a rather rudderless and confused Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with an unclear monetary policy strategy (inevitably increasing the economic uncertainties being faced by Nigerians), have set alarm bells ringing in my mind and in the minds of many discerning Nigerians''. HIS EMINENCE CAPPED IT ALL
ReplyDeleteAS A FINANCIAL ANALYST, I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO PROFFER ADVISE TO MY CLIENTS ON THE REAL ECONOMIC THRUST OF THE RESENT GOVT AND PORTFOLIOS TO INVEST ON. FOR ALMOST ONE YEAR NOW, THE BUHARI GOVT IS YET TO HAVE OR ROLL OUT DIRECT ECONOMIC POLICIES FOR THE COUNTRY. WE ARE AT THE CROSS ROAD. WHICH WAY FORWARD NIGERIA?
ReplyDelete“Why don’t they use loan finance or mortgage finance to buy their cars and houses? This is also a form of looting and it is the cause of grounding the economy and calling in an IMF spin-doctor all the time.
Those that supported CHANGE as against continuity are now realising that they made huge mistake.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Cardinal. I wish the man would listen to the voice of God through you. But daddy, you can now compare and contrast. Which would you prefer... Jonathan or Buhari, or none of the above? I'm sure you will agree that none is perfect, and as such, booting out the first for a second has not in any way solved our basic problem of impunity in our leaders. May God help us.
ReplyDeleteChange all d way...if u dnt lyk it go n die
ReplyDeleteCardinal God is watching you....perhaps we should ask you to swear if you did not benefit from the past looters in any form. You are urging the president to make desperate change... Did you ever advise Jonathan when he was in power. Man of God.... Hummmm God is watching u..
ReplyDeleteSo this man is supporting corruption and disorderliness? I'm disappointed,does he understand diplomatic practice and today's diplomacy? Does he understand that the world is at war with Nigeria because it thinks that Nigeria aid and abets corruption? Does he know that this cash carted away from our economy has a huge hole created? Does he understand the concept of change? So he expect that our traditional mode of misconduct,unaccountability,lawlessness,disorderliness and stealing to stabilize individual's home and comfort will continue and we call it " Change"?
ReplyDeletePlease can some one tell this Oga to change and permit Nigerians to pay the price of expected greatness?
I wonder how could anyone expect that the damages created since 1960 down to the 16 years wasted by PDP would be corrected in a year simply because things are currently slow,of course it has to be slow because if Buhari led Administration does not clearly and painstakingly strategize before taking steps,we may end up like traditional predecessors in gross failure.
It's unfortunate how we look at things in this country,especially the advanced and aged Nigerians who understood the genesis of our problems who should support Buhari to remove this madness are the people speaking against him.
I so thank God for He alone is God and has allowed Buhari to emerge at a time like this to save Nigeria from it self.
It's affecting me too,no much liquidity currently but I see it as my quota-seed-sowed which I will reap when ripe and harvested,let's give time to see what God has in stock through Buhari but I pray that Buhari should have the courage not to backdown on these evil Nigerians that care not about US!
Churches and Mosques are two twin beneficiaries of Nigeria corruption
ReplyDeleteWhere was he Okogie, when the past governments plundered our economy? All of you supporting this man preaching nonsense like his Co-catholic priest Kukah are blinded beyond treatment. It seems it is catholic to support corruption, so I am little surprised.
ReplyDeleteHe was here still speaking against it. Then he was insulted as a Catholic against Gej. To your kind, it is all about religion.
DeleteOkogie, God in heaven bless you.It is difficult if not impossible for everybody to see or hear the truth and appreciate it.I have to realise in life that it's only a few people who love and appreciate yhe truth. Only time will prove the sceptics wrong with the way things are going right now.The indicators are here to show that Buhari and his Apc are not getting it right.
ReplyDeleteIT is due to the years of corruption since 1960 that the federal government cant meet their deadline in providing the budget? or bring in ministers after 6 months? or charging political enemies and recharging them after acquittal like Putin? or not having any clear cut economic policies to help us survive this economic crunch? rather we are soo retarded that we have resorted to paranoia that the outside world is against nigeria that is why our naira is in a bad state, or he has called all his family and friends from the north to eat all our money in meals and cars when they are literally adding carrot to the nigerian economy. I said it before now, the president doesn't have the capacity to rule, He will do a good job as EFCC Chairman shekina.
ReplyDeleteJEEEEZ you guys shud stop the sycophancy honestly its getting really disgusting.
My cardinal what we need from you is prayers not condemnation, your opinion lacks direction. Please allow the president to concentrate.I doubt if really this article is from you because it lacks spiritual wisdom.
ReplyDeleteOther than mere smear attacks can anyone attacking His Eminence for the truth that he published present actual facts to support their claims? Honestly if u know him u won't even say what u av said. Well said Cardinal Okogie
ReplyDeleteNo single positive word of advise for Govt, no correction for those who have robbed the nation blind, instead he is attacking the govt that is trying to set things right. Only 7 months he is tired of change. But he was silent in 6 years of the waste of the nations wealth during the period of surplus! This is corruption fighting back.! But disguised as criticism. By their fruits you shall know them... Not by their titles!.
ReplyDelete