Catholic groups charge Buhari on nation’s rebirth

Catholic groups, Caritas Nigeria and Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to prioritise the rebuilding of Nigeria.

The groups which are organs of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria congratulated Buhari on his assumption of office as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

They however, reiterated the fact that “although infrastructural development is important, what is more important is to rebuild our bastardized psyche and broken trust in government”.

They argued that this can be done “through prudent management, transparency and accountability and thereby restore the confidence of ordinary Nigerians in government”.

In accordance with his inaugural speech, Caritas Nigeria and JDPC in a statement signed by the Executive Secretary Rev. Fr. Evaristus Bassey in Calabar, pleaded with the president “to rescue the ordinary Nigerian from the emperors called governors, who usually take it as their pride of place to plunder at will the resources meant for the common good of all.

“We suggest that although governors cannot be prosecuted because they enjoy immunity, but they should be constantly investigated by the security services and the outcome used as basis for a regular chat between the President and the governors, and that in a proactive manner, the President can constantly remind the governors to direct the resources of their States to the common good.

“We welcome the fact that Buhari flew back to Nigeria in economy class, and urge that a directive be issued as quickly as possible that no public official should travel First Class with public funds, as this action alone can save millions of Naira which could transform whole communities”.

The groups said, “we believe that having been proven to be corruption-free, Buhari is in the best position to lead a moral revolution that would strengthen the institutions of State and the rule of law and lead Nigeria into a pride of place in which the Black man will be respected all over the world.”