No war in human history has ever been known to completely wipe out a whole generation without a trace as there will always be some vestiges often referred to as remnants who will be left behind to tell the story and possibly rebuild the paths from the ruins. So it is also in a season of pervasive socio-ethical degeneracy when values take a flight, there would still be some remnants who remain as the conscience and custodians of what is remaining about the collective values of society. They usually point the way towards restoration.
Nigeria is currently undergoing an existential and ideological war that has raged through the democratic institutions such as the National Assembly, the judiciary, with sub national governments caving in in the process. And so it is that the chorus of ‘On Your Mandate we stand’ is competing with the lines of the National Anthem in the pledging of loyalty to both the State and its leadership.
Truth has been obscured as praise singing becomes a thriving enterprise and standard vehicle of political survival in the land. Given the scenario, it is not out of place to assume that everyone has fallen in line. This explains why President Tinubu and his media managers were taken aback penultimate week when some Bishops and Cardinals of the Catholic faith sought audience with the President. It remains rather instructive that about two weeks after the Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) visited the president, reactions to the encounter have dominated the media space.
This is understandably so, as prophets do not speak all the time, but when they do, it is often with the tonality, if not finality of ‘Thus Says The Lord’. In the context of the Catholic Bishops and President Tinubu, the visit has continued to spark controversy, with public commentaries and heated arguments refusing to abate because they spoke truth to power in a language of frankness the presidency can no longer connect with. Curiously, the harshest criticism of what many now see not just as the bishops’ position, but as a reflection of the mood of millions of Nigerians, comes from within the APC, particularly the Media team of the President. Interestingly, this same set of people celebrated the Catholic Bishops when in 1914 they had audience with President Goodluck Jonathan. When they raised concern over the state of insecurity in the land, they were described as forthright patriots and courageous leaders of faith.
Today, while on a similar mission to the same Aso Rock Villa, the Bishops have been called names from being partisan to abusing pontifical privileges. Some of the criticisms of the Bishop’s positions by the Media Aides to the President have ranged from puerile proclivities to exhibitions of infantile inclinations.
When Aso Rock approved the bishops’ request for a courtesy visit, it would not be out of place that, considering the level the nation’s political degeneracy has reached, the Presidency may have been expecting them to arrive and sing, ‘On your mandate we shall stand’.
The point however needs to be clarified that the Catholic Bishops spoke on behalf of Nigerians. When leadership has drifted far from the people, truth becomes a major casualty but let us not forget that conscience remains an open wound which only truth can heal. So the president may have done well to expect that the Bishops were coming to join the growing army of praise singers who troop into the Presidential Villa to reassure him that countdown to 2027 elections, all is well and that his reforms are already yielding tangible reforms capable of banishing poverty forever from the land. Those are familiar signature tunes the President had gotten used to.
In the place of the expected praise and flurry of endorsements, what came was frank but direct, unmasked criticism of government policies forged and founded out of burning concern for the heavy socio-economic burden borne by the voiceless Nigerian populace. The mission of the Bishops was clearly prophetic, to admonish leadership and speak truth to power. Mission accomplished, the President was reminded of the need to govern better for the benefit of Nigerians. Judging by the intense reactions that followed the meeting, especially Cardinal Onaiyekan’s appearance on Arise TV, it was evident that Aso Villa was not prepared for the kind of message the bishops came to deliver. It was clearly an unfamiliar message in the deep maze of celebrated sycophancy.
Leadership should understand that when prophets speak truth to power, it presents a rare opportunity for them to make it right before time runs out. General Abacha had that uncommon opportunity between March 21-23, 1998 when Nigeria played host to Pope John Paul 11 who was on pastoral and human Rights advocacy visit. Less than three months after that visit, Abacha was no more. History has so much to teach us but because we often fail to learn from the lessons of History, we end up replicating the errors that could have been avoided. The same Catholic Bishops also met with Jonathan in 2014 to express their concern on the state of insecurity in the land and in a question of months President Jonathan was no longer the occupant of Aso Rock Nigeria’s seat of power. They usually come with a message that can be reflected upon for the needed corrections to be effected. The gain should be in the effecting of the much needed correction as against misguided aides throwing tantrums at the highly informed Bishops.
Like in other times, there is no evidence to suggest the Tinubu administration was willing to accept the Bishops’ message in good faith. That explains the rantings of the Bwalas and Onanugas.
If the Bishops had visited the president solely to praise him, they would have betrayed their true calling. This is because religious leaders are not just there to comfort those in power with undeserved praises and garnished truths but to tell them the home truth irrespective of whether this will hurt to the point of discomfiture. Their duty is to speak truth, even when that truth is hard to hear. And they did precisely that. The Bishops deserve commendation not condemnation.
Across the country, hardship has become the defining reality. Poverty is worsening. Hunger has become widespread. The promise of job creation remains largely unfulfilled. Small businesses, which form the backbone of the national economy, contributing about 50% of GDP and creating roughly 80% of jobs, continue to struggle under harsh economic conditions. Local contractors are owed substantial sums, draining vital liquidity from the economy. Budget implementation remains disappointingly poor. The seat of power is engulfed in one level of scandal after another. Above all, insecurity remains intractable and has in fact become a thriving economy of its own with a sustained value chain.
The Bishops merely urged the president to tackle rising insecurity, strengthen democratic institutions, and improve citizens’ living standards. The bishops highlighted realities that are widely recognised by most Nigerians. A responsible government will listen to their advice and work to improve the situation, rather than misrepresenting their concerns, especially since the Catholic bishops have a history of speaking uncomfortable truths to power.
It is indeed a dangerous point in a democracy for the government of the day to expect every segment of the citizenry to turn to praise singers on every issue even when the agonizing pain in the land had reached an unbearable breakup point. For the tantrums already thrown at the Bishops, the President’s Media team should do the needful- Come out with an unreserved public apology. This far reaching degeneracy must be checked if Nigeria’s future is not to be further impaired.
