By Samson Adeyanju
General Secretary (SG), of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Very Rev. Fr Zachariah Samjumi has called for a renewed commitment to addressing Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges, urging government officials to prioritize the welfare of ordinary citizens and close the leakages draining the nation’s resources.
Fr Samjumi made the call in an interview with Good Shepherd Newspaper on Sunday, 1st September, 2024 at CSN after Mass.
Reflecting on the current state of the nation, Fr Samjumi was candid in his assessment, acknowledging that “things are not well.” He pointed to the inefficiencies and corruption that have plagued various sectors, including the non-functional refineries that continue to consume billions of naira without yielding results.
He urged the government to take decisive action to “seal those leakages” that undermine national progress and to focus on infrastructural improvements, particularly in the area of road maintenance.
Fr Samjumi also highlighted the stark disparity between the extravagant salaries of high-ranking government officials and the meager earnings of ordinary Nigerians.
The SG called for a change of heart among the political elite, urging them to recognize the shared humanity between the rich and the poor. “Whether you are a senator or a bricklayer, our humanity is the same,” he asserted, calling for greater empathy and sincerity in governance.
He stressed the need for repentance, urging government officials to put themselves in the shoes of the struggling masses and to take meaningful steps to alleviate their suffering.
His message resonates as a call to action for leaders to protect and uplift the common humanity that binds all Nigerians together.
