Catholic Archbishop Charges Tinubu To Rescind Fuel Subsidy Removal 

The Archbishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, Oyo State, Gabriel Ojeleke Abegunrin has appealed to the President-Elect of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rescind his planned removal of subsidy so as not to make life more difficult for Nigerians.

While answering questions from journalists during the church’s celebration of World Communication Day, the cleric advised Tinubu to repair the nation’s refineries to pave way for surplus petroleum products.

The programme with the theme; “Speaking with The Heart ; “The Truth In Love” had in attendance journalists and prominent members of the church, and it also featured the ordination of Lay Readers from all the dioceses in Ibadan.

Welcoming the guests and members of the church, the Director of Social Communication, Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, Rev. Fr Anthony Akiwowo appealed to all and sundry, especially press men to cultivate the habit of speaking the truth with the heart of love.

According to him ” today, we live in a world that holds on tenaciously to the theory of “Spiral of Silence,” that promotes silence instead of speaking the truth for fear of either punishment or denial of benefits.

“Needless to say therefore that the theme of the Holy Father’s Communication Day Message ” Speaking with the Heart – The Truth in Love ” becomes relevant in our society, where truth has been relegated to the background.”

In his remarks, Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Demola Babalola, who was represented by the Financial Secretary, Abiodun Atilola commended Archbishop Abegunrin for remembering journalists, while also urging him to pray for their safety due to the volatile nature of their job.

He also called on Nigerian clerics to pray for the success of the President-Elect so that he would take the country to the desired Promised Land.

“All eyes are on the President-Elect and he needs prayers to succeed and embark on good policies that will take Nigeria to the desired Promised Land,” he said.

The representative of the National Association for Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Mrs. Lola Alamu, a staff of the FRCN, in her remarks, urged journalists to always take good care of their health by seeing the medical practitioners.

“I want to appeal to politicians to prioritise the welfare of the masses, which formed the number one agenda on their campaign promises, I am also appealing to my colleagues to pay special attention to their health to avoid frequent breakdown and untimely death,” she said.

Commenting on the brutality of innocent Nigerians by the Police, Archbishop Abegunrin urged Nigerians to respect the law and avoid unnecessary argument with them to avoid breakdown of law and order.