Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called on Nigerians to remain patient with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, assuring that the government’s ongoing reforms will soon yield economic prosperity.

Akpabio made the appeal in his opening address as Chairman of the Second Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media/Communication, Anietie Ekong, the Senate President urged citizens not to despair over present challenges but to remain hopeful for a brighter future.

Using a cathedral as an analogy, he said: “A nation is like a mighty cathedral—it is not raised overnight, but stone by stone, prayer by prayer, hand by hand. Do not despair when the winds blow strongly or the scaffolding shakes.”

He also quoted Isaiah 40:31, encouraging Nigerians to draw strength from faith while trusting the reform process.

“Let us therefore renew hope in the Nigerian enterprise. Let us believe again that our land can be great, that our children can inherit a future brighter than our present.

“Let us bind the wounds of division, banish the cynicism of despair, and walk together—Church and State, pulpit and parliament, faith and policy—towards the dawn.

“Transformation is not the burden of one arm of society, nor the privilege of a select few. It is a covenant of partnership. As St. Paul declares: ‘We are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.’”

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who represented President Tinubu, said the administration was working towards building a country that works for everyone.

“This administration came into office with a firm commitment to renew hope, strengthen our democratic institutions, and build a Nigeria that works for all.

“We have taken bold steps to stabilize the economy, attract investment, and implement reforms that will bring enduring benefits to our country.”

He urged the Church to keep supporting the government and assured that the Tinubu administration would leave no one behind through its social investment programmes.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, said the Catholic Church has played key roles all over the world in fighting injustice, enthroning democratic governance, and placing the welfare of the people at the centre of her policies.

He said his administration has invested heavily in lifting people out of poverty, especially the poor and vulnerable persons, and to improve their living conditions.

He enumerated several intervention programmes initiated by the government.

He called for the continued support of the Church in delivering dividends of democracy to the people.

The conference had in attendance the Apostolic Nuncio and representative of the Pope, Most Rev. Michael Francis Crotty, Catholic Bishops from all over Nigeria, and other Catholic faithful, members of the National Assembly, politicians, and worshippers from all parts of the country. (The PUNCH)