A Catholic Bishop, Kayode Odetoyinbo, has kicked against calls for the restructuring of Nigeria as the only way to solve the myriad problems confronting the country.
Mr. Odetoyinbo of the Abeokuta Diocese made this known on Sunday at the 51st World Communications’ Day held at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Cathedral, Itesi, Adatan, Abeokuta.
He posited that, rather, the only solution to the nation’s problem is attitudinal change by all and sundry irrespective of religious, ethnic and political affiliations.
The cleric said if there is attitudinal change by all Nigerians, the present structure is capable of solving the nation’s challenges, saying that the nation’s leaders should be truly committed to good governance.
Mr. Odetoyinbo said if Nigeria is restructured “the same leaders would be in charge of governance and then we would be back to square one.”
“The restructuring is borne out of agitation, political, economic emancipation not religious. If restructuring will be good, what will come out of it, if the present restructure is not good, what have we experienced from it. If we restructure, my question is, who will govern those areas we restructured?” he stated
“Is it not the same people governing us now that will put themselves to govern and direct and control the affairs of the restructured nation?
“Are we not back to square one? Why not let us face what is needed to be faced now, treat ourselves well. Free ourselves from all that is battling against Nigeria, then restructuring will come. Change of mentality, change of mind, change of approach to many things, then when the restructure comes, it will bear good fruit”, he added.
Speaking on the anti-graft war of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, Mr. Odetoyinbo said if Nigerians really want corruption to be totally eradicated, they would do it.
“End to corruption will come if all Christians in the country today, decide that there is no more corruption. Corruption will stop if all teachers decide today that it is an end to corruption. Likewise parents. We are in one way or the other part of the system. So, my take is that as far as Christians in this country say no more corruption, there will be no more corruption. All of us if we want corruption to stop, it will stop,” he declared
The cleric also pointed out that there was need for recovered funds from corrupt public officers who are undergoing trial to be included in the nation’s budget.
He posited that such step would boost the peoples’ confidence in the current administration’s drive in the fight against corruption.
“My suggestion is that such recovered money should be included in the nation’s budget. People will feel okay to realise that our recovered money is what is being spent appropriately and make them to have confidence in the fight against corruption.”
On the recent coup rumour, the bishop said ” Why are they suspecting each other, they are suspecting themselves at the top, let them resolve it among themselves, let them sit down and re-evaluate themselves and do the needful”.
Mr. Odetoyinbo commended media practitioners in the country for remaining the hope of the masses in exposing the wrongs in the society, saying, “only God can reward you. But, don’t relent as we are relying on you to say the truth and expose the evil in the society, we shall continue to pray for you.”
He, however, commended the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun led administration for the work done in the state, saying “No one can do everything, he is doing what he knows how to do best”.
He appealed to him to fulfil his promise to return the mission schools to the original owner before the expiration of his tenure in 2019.
In his speech, the Director of Social Communications of the Diocese, Charles Soyombo, urged media practitioners to be truthful and make objectivity the hallmark of their profession, saying the world had been fed with bad and sensational news.
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