Nationwide Protest: Religious leaders, Patriarchs, now talks out of both sides of their mouths, cannot speak for the masses—Iche alleges
By Onome Naomi
Comrade Prince Saviour Iche, a human rights activist, expresses concerns over the ambiguous position of the elders, religious leaders, and royal fathers in our society and their inability to defend the masses by addressing the present administration on the dire situation plaguing Nigerians.
He noted that over time, religious leaders especially have shifted focus from propagating the gospel to joining politics for personal gains seen as an entanglement to further bear falsehood rather than stand by the truth. Some he says will rather ‘sit on the fence’ than address the Nigerian government on hardship overtaking the nation hence a trigger for the demonstration slated to commence on 1st, August, 2024.
Iche further speaks :
“There is fire on the mountain and no one is running. Nigeria is heading towards an unrepairable situation If our politicians, religious leaders, elders, royal fathers do not retrace their steps and enforce what is right.”
” Before now, our religious leaders do not involve self in politics but now the reverse is the case. Religious leaders have been compromised, just as seen in Kano, when the last administration forcefully removed sanusi from the seat of Emir to be replaced by their preferred candidate while other religious leaders kept mute rather than speak up against such ill. The new administration restored Sanusi as the preferred candidate disregarding the orderly procedure of restoring an Emir. The religious seat of power has become a political appointment. Same with the Igbo and Yoruba tribe.”
” Politicians have corrupted the system!!! Now our pastors, imams and royal fathers speaks with both sides of their mouths. They have compromised on their faith and therefore lives in falsehood.”
” Nigerian Govt has a way of making appointees automatically become villains upon attaining seat of power, but it is disappointing to see those we look up to as elders, pastors, imams and royal fathers who should stand for the truth compromise their faith for mere governmental gains thereby debarring self from addressing the stringent policies confronting the welfare of the citizens, leading to hardship.”
” Take a look at the Nigerian Labour Congress. Before and during Oshiomole’s reign, their mission was undaunted; the focus was to fight for the rights and privileges of Nigerians, but now that position has been compromised, and the government appoints candidates that will submit to their whims unimpeded, as seen in the proposed minimum wage tussle of N70,000 that can barely provide the basics for households.”
” The judiciary, which is supposedly the last hope for the common man, has also been compromised by the government. The government employs their preferred judges and lawyers into positions not necessarily by merit but by subjugation, as seen during the 2023 general elections.”
” The nation is rapidly descending into an irreversible state where poverty and hunger have taken hold of the country due to these anomalies. Weary and barely able to subsist, the masses will demonstrate their worries. The purpose of the protest is to raise awareness of an awkward issue that needs further investigation and to make our leaders aware of how ineffective they are at easing the pain of the general populace. A protest, meanwhile, ought to be orderly and compliant with the law.”
” To be called upon by the government for a lawful demonstration is an affront to our spiritual leaders. Instead, the spiritual fathers should call the leaders to order and warn them, but because of their concessions, they may lack the courage to do so. In a rational world, the government honors the royal fathers and they discuss shortcomings that need to be fixed.”
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Lastly, Comrade Prince Saviour Iche urges President Tinubu to reshuffle his cabinet of incompetent appointees and make suited appointments of persons who have a better strategy to help fix the sinking economy. Royal Fathers and religious leaders should retrace their steps, speak earnestly to the government on the plight of Nigerians, and do that which is right.
