The Catholic Bishop of Idah Diocese, Reverend Anthony Adaji, has criticized the administration of Chief Bola Tinubu, stating that Nigeria is on the verge of becoming a failed state due to poor governance.
Speaking during his 60th birthday celebration at Our Lady Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Idah on Sunday, Bishop Adaji expressed concerns about the declining state of democracy in the country, citing the lack of transparency in local government elections and the erosion of trust in the government.
The bishop lamented the economic hardship faced by Nigerians, attributing it to the mismanagement of the country’s wealth.
Bishop Adaji stated, “All the Local Government election results are declared with no other party winning any election and we still call it democracy. Democracy is failing in our country called Nigeria. We cannot pretend things are getting well. It is getting worse every day.
“People are dying because of a cup of garri right now in our country. I would recall that the former ambassador to Nigeria when he came to commission something in Abuja, said Nigeria is the most concentrated country with black intellectuals around the world. He was a black American who served as an Ambassador many years ago. Even in America, the black people, Nigeria has the highest intellectuals among the black people in the world.
“How can such a country be gradually sinking and becoming a failed State? We cannot pretend about that. The politicians in Nigeria are not helping democracy to grow. So, you cannot tell me that in a particular state that is being controlled by a particular political party, there is no local government that can choose a candidate. This is not true because I don’t believe that. It is a deliberate attempt by politicians to destroy democracy.”
The clergy asserted that the current economic hardship in the country was self-inflicted.
He said, “Nigeria has enough resources that every child in Nigeria should not be hungry. There is a great endowment of wealth in this country, but the mismanagement of wealth has led us to where we are now. This is the situation Nigerians are facing.
“God has blessed Nigeria abundantly, but unfortunately, the mismanagement of Nigeria’s resources over time has brought us to where we are now. If nothing is done it can only get worse and never get better.
“The removal of fuel subsidy and the escalating price of goods with many Nigerians dying because of a cup of garri and can’t afford to feed their family, we can’t call that as an administration that is moving Nigeria forward. It is not at all because we must tell ourselves the truth.
“There is nothing to lose in telling the truth. If the government is committed to uplifting this country forward, the cost of governance must be cut off. You cannot talk of giving politicians billions of naira, and many Nigerians are dying because they can’t afford food to eat.
“We can’t accept such a government. It can only be ranked among governors that have looted the economy. If nothing is done or things continue like this, the nation is spelling for doom,” he added.
The bishop concluded by calling on Nigerians to pray for a united country, warning that without immediate action, the nation’s situation could worsen.
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