Vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Rabi’u Kwankwaso has backed the Catholic Bishops over their concerns about the state of the country during their recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.
Kwankwaso praised the Catholic Bishops for what he described as courage and patriotism in speaking about the challenges facing Nigerians, saying their concerns should not be viewed as political or partisan.
The former Kano State governor made his position known in a post on his verified X handle.
He said the issues raised by the clerics reflected the daily experiences of ordinary Nigerians across the country and should be treated seriously by the Federal Government.
Kwankwaso rejected suggestions that the Bishops’ concerns about the rising cost of living, insecurity, declining public confidence and the hardship faced by millions of Nigerians were motivated by politics.
According to him, the problems highlighted by the religious leaders are realities experienced by Nigerians regardless of their political, religious or regional backgrounds.
“I commend the Catholic Bishops for their courage and patriotism. It is through such collective commitment and responsible leadership that we can build a more peaceful, united, and prosperous Nigeria,” he said.
The former governor said millions of Nigerians were still struggling with economic hardship, unemployment, insecurity, poor access to quality education and healthcare, as well as limited opportunities.
He argued that the situation was particularly painful because Nigeria had abundant human and natural resources that could support a better standard of living for its citizens.
Kwankwaso said the challenges facing the country required urgent and sincere action from those in government.
He called for people-centred policies that would address the needs of ordinary Nigerians rather than decisions that might not have a direct impact on their welfare.
The NDC chieftain also urged Nigerians who were concerned about the country to continue engaging with the Federal Government and other leaders whenever opportunities arose.
He said such engagement should be constructive and focused on promoting good governance, accountability, security and economic prosperity.
The comments followed a recent meeting between President Tinubu and Catholic Bishops at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
During the meeting, the religious leaders raised concerns about some of the major challenges confronting the country and the impact of those problems on citizens.
The Catholic Church has frequently spoken on issues of national importance, including insecurity, poverty, corruption, unemployment and the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians.
The Bishops’ meeting with the President therefore attracted attention because of the concerns raised about the state of the nation and the need for stronger action to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
Kwankwaso’s support for the Bishops adds another political voice to the debate over the Federal Government’s handling of the country’s economic and security challenges.
Since the Tinubu administration came into office in May 2023, it has introduced major economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange system.
The government has repeatedly defended the reforms as necessary measures to rebuild the economy, attract investment and reduce the financial burden on the government.
However, the reforms have also resulted in significant increases in the cost of living, particularly following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The prices of petrol, food, transportation and other essential goods and services have risen sharply at different points, putting pressure on households and businesses.
The government has introduced various measures aimed at reducing the impact of the reforms, including social intervention programmes, student loans, support for small businesses and efforts to improve food production.
Despite these measures, opposition politicians, labour unions, civil society organisations and other groups have continued to demand stronger action to reduce hardship and improve living conditions.
Insecurity remains another major concern.
Communities in different parts of the country continue to face threats from bandits, kidnappers, terrorists and other criminal groups.
The situation has affected farming, trade, movement and investment in some areas, while many families have been forced to live with fear of attacks and abductions.
The education and healthcare sectors also face challenges, including inadequate funding, shortage of personnel, poor infrastructure and migration of skilled professionals.
Kwankwaso said these challenges should not be treated as political issues but as national problems requiring collective action.
He maintained that leaders at all levels must be willing to listen to criticism and engage with Nigerians about their concerns.
According to him, constructive criticism from religious leaders, political groups, civil society organisations and other stakeholders should be seen as part of the process of strengthening democracy.
He called on Nigerians to continue demanding accountability from their leaders while also supporting efforts aimed at improving the country.
The former Kano governor said national development required the participation of all citizens and responsible leadership from those in positions of authority.
He added that the welfare and prosperity of Nigerians should remain the central focus of government policies.
The comments also come as political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kwankwaso was the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in the 2023 presidential election, in which he came fourth.
He later became associated with the opposition coalition that has been seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of the next general election.
His support for the Catholic Bishops is therefore likely to attract political attention, particularly as the opposition continues to criticise the Federal Government over the economy and security.
However, Kwankwaso’s statement focused mainly on the need for leaders to respond to the difficulties facing Nigerians rather than on partisan politics.
He said all well-meaning Nigerians should continue to engage the government whenever possible and advocate policies that would improve security, welfare and economic opportunities.
Kwankwaso concluded his message by praying for the country, saying, “May Almighty Allah continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
His position has added to calls for the Federal Government to listen to concerns raised by religious and community leaders and take further steps to ease the economic and security pressures affecting millions of Nigerians.