By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
The Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Most. Rev. Emmanuel Badejo has urged Nigerians to be agents of positive change, emphasising that the country is not beyond repair.
Badejo gave the advice in his new year message, entitled ‘Make a fresh vow: Reclaim Nigeria in 2024’, which was issued in Ibadan.
The Catholic Bishop urged citizens to make a fresh vow to turn Nigeria from a country of perpetual potentialities to one with huge actualities in honest work, productivity, accountability, solidarity and discipline.
This, he said, would be possible if all, government and people, work together in harmony.
“But it must start with our leaders in politics, economy, business in the academia, the media, the family, the Church and in the society and at all levels.
“All must refresh their determination to recreate a better Nigeria: we must stop the mass murder and maiming of our compatriots by unjust aggressors and even by state agencies that are paid to protect them.
“2023 is already acclaimed to be the worst year on record for the killing of children worldwide. What an accolade! We should no longer tolerate those in positions of authority and power who merely look on or even participate in monumental fraud and injustice, perpetrated against the very people and the commonwealth they claim to serve.
“We must rebuke leaders who divide rather than reconcile us with one another. Leadership conducted in that manner has no legitimacy and should be rejected,” he said.
Badejo advised Nigerians to know that life is temporary and power at any level is meant for service.
He notes that all in power would be judged in history and eternity by the good that they do for others and for the common good in the present.
“Let us all ask: What am I really here for? What will I be remembered for? The joy of every sane human being is to make as many people as possible happy, make as many lives as possible better, while we can.
“For how long will the bloodshed in Nigeria continue? For how much longer will fellow human beings eat from the dungheap right before our eyes.
“For how much longer will our educational and health institutions gasp for attention while we hypocritically desire a better future?
“Let 2024 be the year when we make a fresh vow of transformation to revive the ideals of authentic, servant-leadership among us, namely: honesty, accountability, selflessness, solidarity, generosity of spirit and a sense of justice,” he said.
The catholic bishop also enjoined all Nigerians, especially the youth, to stop making “religion the scapegoat for our woes”.
According to him, authentic religion is a positive catalyst, a stabilizer, a force for good, for our decisions, sentiments and relationships and has done a lot for the common good over time.
He urged all to imbibe authentic religion and shun all false prophets to reap full benefits of religious sensibilities; so that joy and peace would return to all.
“The new year ought to bring better times but here things are only getting worse for millions. Corruption and indiscipline pervade practically all facets of our life in high and low places.
“Violence, bloodshed, fraud, stealing injustice continue unabated. Most of those who wield power and authority continue to cater only for themselves and their friends.
“The poor and underprivileged languish more in poverty and deprivation with many falling into despondency. In all this the youth get even more restive and angry and clamour for a better future.
“Too little good is happening too slowly to alleviate the people’s sufferings. So, millions have become beggars, living on handouts and palliative while others simply turn to crime in various forms.
“All hands must be on deck this year to make Nigeria better, the country is not beyond repair and loosing hope is not an option,” Badejo stressed. (NAN)
