Our reporter
Auchi- The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has called for a return to regional government, arguing that the 25-year experiment with the presidential system has failed to benefit the country.
This call was made during the opening ceremony of the 2nd CBCN Plenary Meeting, held over the weekend in Auchi, Edo State.
In a stern critique of the nation’s current socio-political landscape, CBCN President, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, highlighted the alarming levels of corruption, Nigeria’s crippling debt burden, and widespread hunger.
He argued that these issues could be alleviated if the stolen funds, stashed away in foreign accounts by corrupt politicians, were recovered and repurposed for the nation’s development.
Archbishop Ugorji expressed deep concern over the high cost of running the presidential system, which he described as “staggering and unsustainable.” He noted that the concentration of power at the federal level has created fertile ground for corruption to thrive.
“Having experimented with the presidential system of government for over 25 years and having groped in the dark in search of solutions to our socio-economic problems, now seems to be the opportune time to heed the advice of some of our best minds canvassing our return to the former regional system of government, as envisaged by the wise founding fathers of our nation or devolve power to the present six geo-political zones,” Ugorji stated.
The bishops also addressed the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, acknowledging that the movement turned violent but maintained that Nigerians have the constitutional right to protest. Ugorji condemned the killings that occurred during the protests, stressing that such actions were unjustifiable.
Furthermore, Ugorji lamented the recent kidnappings of Catholic medical students from the Universities of Jos and Maiduguri in Otukpo, Benue State. He linked these incidents to the broader security challenges facing the nation, exacerbated by the current governance structure.
Drawing parallels with past economic policies, Ugorji criticized the ongoing reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, likening them to the failed Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) of General Ibrahim Babangida, which was supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He suggested that these reforms, much like SAP, are unlikely to resolve Nigeria’s deep-rooted socio-economic challenges.
The CBCN’s call for a return to regional governance comes at a time of increasing discontent with Nigeria’s political and economic direction, as the country grapples with persistent corruption, insecurity, and economic instability.
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