The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, has said that the federal government seems to be overwhelmed and unconcerned about the rate of insecurity as well as the worsening economy.

The Bishops described the development as disturbing, saying the future of the country looks bleak. CBCN President, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, spoke on Sunday at the opening session of the 2023 first plenary Assembly of the body in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The theme of the event was ‘Citizens’ Participation in Good Governance in Nigeria’. According to him, despite assurances by the federal government that it is on top of the matter, insecurity continues to haunt the nation and economic conditions in the land keeps biting harder, that insecurity has continued to haunt the nation. The Boko Haram militia, Fulani herdsmen, bandits and unknown gunmen have continued to unleash terror in different parts of the country, nowhere seems safe: highways, homes and even the sacred precincts of worshipping centres.

The Bishops pointed out that to enthrone good governance in the country, citizens had a key role to play through political participation, even when they are not involved in partisan politics.

Speaking also, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, urged Christians to play active roles in partisan politics. According to him, by doing so, they will carry righteousness into governance

He also said that CAN at all levels has continued to encourage her members, particularly those that are called into political leadership to, as a matter of necessity, join political parties of their choice and ensure that the suffering of the masses occasioned by misgovernance due to incompetence, selfishness and wickedness are reversed when they are given any opportunity to serve.

Further explaining that such opportunities will come if the government of the day opens the space and gives appointments by considering our diversity as a nation.