Former Anglican Communion Worldwide Secretary-General Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon has called on the Federal Government to stop downplaying the economic pain facing ordinary Nigerians and instead openly acknowledge the suffering while clearly outlining steps being taken to ease it.
Speaking to journalists in Kaduna on Monday, the founder and director of the Kaduna Centre for the Study of Christian-Muslim Relations said his frequent interactions with citizens had left him in no doubt about the scale of the crisis. Many people, he noted, can no longer afford adequate food or transport.
“To say people are not suffering as a result of what is going on in our country, I think we are being economical with the truth,” Idowu-Fearon stated. “You can see suffering. There is no doubt about that. A good number of people just have one meal a day. They can hardly even have a balanced meal.”
The cleric, a former Chairman of the Kaduna State Peace Commission, linked the hardship partly to the impact of recent reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and foreign-exchange changes under President Bola Tinubu. While the government has defended the measures as necessary to stabilise the economy, boost revenue and attract investment, Idowu-Fearon said rising costs of food, transport, electricity and other essentials continue to bite hard.
He pointed out that the difficulties have even reduced church attendance, as some worshippers can no longer pay for motorcycles, taxis or buses. “It’s not that the people themselves can afford to take either taxis or buses to the church. So, there is poverty,” he said.
Questioning the benefits of increased revenue to the three tiers of government, the bishop asked: “I also heard the Minister of Finance talking about trillions coming in, trillions going to the state governors, going to the local government chairmen. And I ask, where is the money? Where is this money?”
He illustrated the severity of inflation with everyday examples, recalling that items once sold for about ₦500 are now priced at ₦5,000. “Something that we were paying about 500 Naira for, 5,000! Tomatoes, anything you ask, they tell you thousand, thousand. What do we do?” His own residence, he added, had been without public electricity for several days.
Rather than denial, Idowu-Fearon urged the authorities to communicate transparently: “Instead of denying, government should say, ‘We are aware. This is what we are doing, this is what we are doing.’”
The bishop also cautioned religious leaders against becoming too close to politicians, warning that such proximity risks compromising their prophetic voice. “As religious leaders—whether an Imam or a priest, a Sheikh or a Bishop, whatever—when you begin to frequent politicians, you get corrupted. If I give you money, if I make sure that you are very comfortable, you cannot challenge me. You’d rather become economical with the truth.”
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, he advised Nigerians to prioritise character over religious identity. “Nigeria, honestly, this country does not need a Muslim or a Christian president. What we need is a president who is Christian or Muslim. There is a difference.” Neither faith, he stressed, endorses tribalism, corruption, dishonesty or the exploitation of others.
On Governor Uba Sani’s decision to restore a Muslim-Christian political balance in Kaduna, Idowu-Fearon said the move aligns with the state’s political and religious realities. He further urged religious and traditional leaders not to instruct followers on how to vote, insisting instead on open debate: “I don’t subscribe to a traditional ruler, a Bishop, or whoever telling members what to do. We should have debates. We should encourage debates!”
Regarding insecurity, the former peace commission chairman acknowledged progress in Birnin Gwari but called for sustained pressure on those causing trouble. “The government is trying, but… they should not relent. They should keep the pressure on those who are committed to creating problems. Birnin Gwari today, as far as I’m concerned, is a part of the state we can flag, because things have really gone down a bit.”
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