By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Order of the Knights of St Mulumba (KSM) has called on the Federal government to go beyond fuel subsidy removal and keep to its promise of re-energizing the manufacturing sector.
The Catholic Knights also enjoined the government to endeavour to reflate the economy in order to contain the current spiraling inflation and wanton depreciation of the Naira.
In a communique at the end of their 44th Supreme Council Convention held at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan Oyo State, the Catholic Knights urged the federal government to “be very circumspect in the utilisation of external loans already secured and “to put a stop to external borrowing and endeavour to deepen the growth of the economy by optimising various local potentials and realities”.
The Communique which was signed by Supreme Knight, Sir Charles Mbelede said:
“KSM is alarmed by the spate of conflicting decisions by some courts of concurrent jurisdiction and increase in the number of judgements that conflict with each other by the various courts of appeal, especially as they pertain to election matters. We urge the Chief Justice of Nigeria and indeed the National Judicial Council (NJC) to take appropriate steps to forestall the gradual erosion of the integrity, honour and high esteem of the Nigerian Judiciary.
“KSM canvasses for a saner polity where God fearing leaders, who abhor evil should participate in politics. That our leaders ought to aspire to being saints by playing politics of the common good.
KSM appreciates the candour of President Bola Tinubu, in publicly acknowledging the harrowing times that Nigerians are going through as well as his often-stated determination to turn around the economy.
“We implore the government to take immediate concrete steps to mitigate the current hardship and work assiduously towards total eradication of poverty and the enthronement of an egalitarian Nigerian society in no distant future. In furtherance of this goal, we urge the Federal Government to endeavour to keep to its earlier promise to bring the refineries back on stream by the end of 2023.
“We commend Nigerians for their resilience and resourcefulness in face of obvious odds and urge them to remain steadfast and committed to the best ethos and ideals of a better and greater Nigeria”.
The Catholic Knights further noted that given that the pervasive poverty in the land is concomitant upon the inclement economic climate in the country, the Federal Government and its donor partners should ensure that the palliatives meant for the masses actually gets to them.
“The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and her officials should ensure the highest level of empathy and transparency in their overall conduct and action in the service of disadvantaged Nigerians”, the communique added.
On oil theft, the Order said, “KSM stands with the Federal Government in the continuous fight against oil theft, insurgency, banditry and other violent crimes, lauding government’s stated commitment to secure the nation’s maritime territory, boost the capacity and capability of the armed forces, the police and intelligence agencies,”
It added, “we emphasise the need for the security agencies to rescue the remainder of the Chibok Girls, Leah Sharibu, the luckless Akwa Ibom Youth Corpers and other victims of kidnapping. We urge the government not to sweep the gruesome murder of Deborah Samuel Yakubu cum her whistle-blower, Rhoda Jatau now languishing in Bauchi prison for over 18 months under the carpet; but to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime are brought to book speedily.
“We call for uniformity of purpose among the political class now that elections, with the attendant cut throat politicking, are over and re-direct efforts towards the building of a prosperous and self-reliant nation. The National Assembly should take urgent steps to amend the extant laws to reform our electoral system to ensure the realisation of free and fair elections at all times.
“We implore the governors forum to institute an effective peer review mechanism that will underscore the minimum acceptable behaviour and performance index among the political leaders at the sub national level. We implore the governors to entrench the periodic conduct of transparent local government elections to aid the emergence of credible leadership at the grassroots. READ ALSO:
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“We reiterate our call for leaders at all levels of government to show greater responsibility in their duties and empathy to the plight of the average Nigeria and ensure that Nigeria shed the odious garb of “The Poverty Capital of The World”.
The Order commended the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) for continuing to stand firm for all that is good and for its unceasing clamour for a just and progressive Nigeria, adding that “KSM restates its unflinching support to the CBCN, at all times and it’s commitment to stand by its decisions and precepts”.
The Supreme convention which attracted the top echelon on KSM from all over the country was held from 29th November to 3rd of December, 2023.
