Most Rev. David Onuoha, the Anglican Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, highlighted that despite the severe state of affairs in Nigeria, protests and acts of violence are not the appropriate means to address the problems at hand.

Archbishop Onuoha shared this advice during the commencement of the 43rd Provincial Council Meeting at the Cathedral Church of St. Matthew, Atta, in the Ikeduru local council area of Imo State.

“While it is no longer news that there is widespread hunger in the nation, and our country’s situation is deeply distressing, it is crucial to acknowledge that the current state of our economy did not arise suddenly,” expressed Archbishop Onuoha.

“Although the circumstances are dire, I am not convinced that protests and violent actions will provide any resolution. The intentions behind our actions hold significant importance as they determine whether our actions are beneficial or detrimental,” he added.

Archbishop Onuoha urged the citizens to firmly resist the temptation of falling into the clutches of enemies, including bandits and terrorists. He emphasized that any breakdown of law and order would provide an opportunity for such elements to exploit and overrun the country.

The Anglican clergyman advised the nation’s leaders to downsize their personal staff and reduce the intimidating convoys accompanying them, stating that Nigerians are not challenging to govern.

“Nigerians are not overly difficult to govern. By significantly reducing the size of personal staff and the extensive and intimidating convoys of vehicles accompanying our leaders, we can genuinely demonstrate empathy with the people and their struggles,” Archbishop Onuoha remarked.

“Such actions will instill confidence in any government reforms being pursued. Resolving the economic quagmire we find ourselves in requires the wisdom, contributions, and collective efforts of all individuals, regardless of their political, religious, or ethnic affiliations,” he continued.

Archbishop Onuoha also expressed his concern about the lack of practical measures taken by the Federal Government to curb the unrestricted use of foreign currencies within Nigeria.

“It is evident that the unrestricted flow of foreign currencies within the country undermines our sovereignty and devalues our currency to mere paper with no intrinsic worth,” stated Archbishop Onuoha.

He suggested implementing policies that criminalize the use of foreign currencies outside of banks and ensuring strict and unwavering enforcement as a potential solution to stabilise the Naira and facilitate the much-needed economic recovery.

Addressing the recent threat by some Northern leaders to hinder the movement of agricultural products from their regions, Archbishop Onuoha called upon religious leaders and other stakeholders to raise awareness and encourage the people, especially the Ndigbo community, to prioritise farming.