The Anglican Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. David Onuoha, expressed that while Nigeria’s situation remains dire, he believes protests and violent acts are not viable solutions to the problems at hand. Archbishop Onuoha conveyed this message on Thursday during the commencement of the 43rd Provincial Council Meeting at the Cathedral Church of St. Matthew, Atta, Ikeduru local council area of Imo State.
He acknowledged the well-known issues of hunger and distress in the nation but emphasized that the current economic challenges didn’t arise suddenly. He stressed the importance of understanding the motives behind actions, asserting that resorting to protests and violence might not yield positive outcomes.
Archbishop Onuoha cautioned against falling prey to external threats such as bandits and terrorists, highlighting the potential consequences of a breakdown in law and order. He urged leaders to reconsider the size of their personal staff and imposing convoys, suggesting that a more modest approach would foster greater empathy with the populace and enhance confidence in governmental reforms.
Furthermore, Archbishop Onuoha criticized the Federal Government’s inaction regarding the unregulated use of foreign currencies within Nigeria, which he believes undermines the nation’s sovereignty and devalues its currency. He advocated for stringent policies and enforcement to curb the informal circulation of foreign currencies, proposing that this could stabilize the Naira and stimulate economic recovery.
Addressing concerns about threats to food supply from certain Northern leaders, Archbishop Onuoha called for concerted efforts to promote agriculture, particularly among the Igbo community. He emphasized the potential for local food production to mitigate dependence on external sources and urged a return to farming practices to ensure food security.