The Knights of St. John International and Ladies Auxiliary (KSJI), Nigeria, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and other leaders in the country to give room for constructive views from religious leaders and other stakeholders in finding solutions to the challenges facing Nigeria.
In an open letter to the President following the controversy arising from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria’s (CBCN) recent visit to the President in Abuja, the KSJI lamented the political and partisan coloration attached to the visit by some presidential spokespersons and the controversy it has generated in the country.
The bishops had met with President Tinubu, raising concerns over the rising insecurity and economic hardship being faced by Nigerians, democracy and the conduct of elections.
The letter, signed by Sir Peter Osamgbi, Chairman of the KSJI Strategic Communication Committee, said the fact that a respected religious institution raises concerns about the state of the nation does not transform the institution into a political opposition or justify attributing partisan or political motives to the bishops’ intervention.
The knights described such a characterisation as unfortunate.
They added that the CBCN had, over the years, occupied an important position in Nigeria’s public life as a moral and religious institution, stressing that it represented the collective pastoral leadership of the Catholic Church in Nigeria.
For many years, the letter explained, the bishops had engaged government leaders on matters affecting peace, security, justice, good governance, religious harmony and the general welfare of Nigerians, pointing out that the latest meeting with the Presidency should not be different.
According to the knights, “The Presidency should always distinguish legitimate dialogue from selfish motives and shun imputing partisan political motives to such engagements, among others.”