The World President of the International College and Council of Bishops and Apostles (ICCOBA) in Dublin, Archbishop Princewill Ariwodor, has urged President Bola Tinubu to resign if he cannot effectively address Nigeria’s deteriorating economic situation.
Speaking to Vanguard amidst widespread protests against hunger and poor governance, Archbishop Ariwodor expressed deep concern over the current economic state.
Ariwodor argued that President Tinubu should not have taken up the leadership role if he was unprepared to tackle the country’s significant issues, especially the hardships caused by what he termed “anti-people policies.”
“We have never experienced such decay in economic management,” he lamented. “Other leaders, in one way or another, managed better than the current administration. Tinubu should resign if he cannot fix the economy. The Nigerian economy was in a better state when Buhari handed it over to him, and now it is in ruins.”
The Archbishop also condemned the government’s efforts to suppress peaceful protests, labeling such measures as a threat to democracy. He emphasized that Nigerians have a constitutional right to express their discontent through peaceful demonstrations.
“Nigerians are hungry and have the constitutional right to express their grievances through peaceful protest,” Ariwodor stated. “The people are not violent, so why use force against peaceful protesters? It’s like flogging the nation and expecting people not to cry.”
Furthermore, Archbishop Ariwodor warned against any attempts to arrest the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, for his critiques of Tinubu’s economic policies. He voiced strong support for Obi and others who have criticized the government or backed peaceful protests.
“Abia elders solidly stand behind Obi. If anyone tries to arrest him, we will all march to Abuja, prepared to face any consequences. If anyone harms him for speaking the truth, they must be ready to deal with all of us,” he declared.
Ariwodor also criticized leaders advising against the nationwide protests, accusing them of misleading the President for personal benefit. He highlighted the dire economic conditions, questioning why people should remain silent when basic food items are exorbitantly priced.
“We dissociate ourselves from the advice of some Igbo leaders who, despite their positions, are blind to the suffering caused by bad governance. Why should people keep quiet when a cup of beans costs N600 and two cups of garri N500?” he questioned.
Despite his strong criticisms, the Archbishop urged protesters to remain non-violent and to voice their grievances within the bounds of the law.
The ongoing protests, dubbed ’10 Days of Rage’ with the hashtag #EndBadGovernance, have seen significant participation nationwide, reflecting the widespread frustration with the administration’s economic policies.
