The Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD) unequivocally commends the leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) for demonstrating uncommon courage and moral responsibility by speaking truth to power during their recent engagement with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
In a nation increasingly burdened by economic despair, social uncertainty and declining public confidence in governance, the bishops have reminded us that silence in the face of suffering is not neutrality; it is complicity. Their intervention was not partisan. It was patriotic, prophetic and profoundly humane.
FOSAD notes with deep concern that millions of Nigerians are currently passing through excruciating poverty, severe hardship and unprecedented hyperinflation under the present administration. The cost of food, transportation, housing, healthcare and education has risen beyond the reach of ordinary citizens. Families can no longer afford basic necessities, small businesses are collapsing, unemployment continues to rise, and many young Nigerians are losing hope in the future of their country.
The lived experience of the average Nigerian today is one of pain, deprivation and anxiety. Markets have become theatres of anguish, while households struggle daily to survive. Pensioners are impoverished, workers’ wages have been eroded by inflation, and vulnerable groups bear the heaviest burden of the economic crisis.
Against this background, the Catholic bishops performed a sacred national duty by drawing the attention of the President to the harsh realities confronting citizens. FOSAD believes that any government genuinely committed to democratic accountability should welcome such honest counsel rather than dismiss or disparage it.
History teaches that nations decline when leaders are surrounded only by praise singers and insulated from the truth. The strength of a democracy lies not in the absence of criticism but in the willingness of leaders to listen to sincere criticism and act upon it. Constructive engagement by religious leaders, academics, civil society organisations and professional bodies is essential for national renewal.
We therefore condemn every attempt to ridicule, intimidate or delegitimise the bishops for expressing concerns shared by millions of Nigerians across religious, ethnic and political divides. The issues they raised are not sectarian concerns; they are national concerns. Hunger has no religion. Inflation has no ethnicity. Poverty recognises no denomination.
FOSAD further observes that the current economic situation demands urgent and compassionate leadership. Government must move beyond optimistic rhetoric and confront the realities on the ground. Policies should be evaluated not by official statistics alone but by their impact on the lives of ordinary people.
We respectfully urge President Tinubu to receive the message of the Catholic bishops in good faith and to take immediate steps to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians. Such steps should include policies aimed at reducing inflation, stabilising food prices, supporting local production, protecting jobs, improving security and restoring public trust in governance.
As a body of scholars and public intellectuals committed to national development, FOSAD reiterates that intellectual honesty and moral courage are indispensable virtues in times of crisis. The Catholic bishops have exemplified these virtues, and their voice deserves respect.
Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads. What the country needs now is not denial, propaganda or division, but truth, empathy, competence and decisive action. We call on all religious leaders, traditional institutions, professional associations and citizens of goodwill to continue speaking honestly about the challenges facing our nation while working peacefully for justice, accountability and sustainable development.
FOSAD remains committed to the defence of democratic values, social justice, responsible governance and the dignity of every Nigerian.
Signed:
Dr Stephen Nwala
President
Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD)
Dr Uzor Ngoladi
Secretary General
Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD)
