The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has urged Nigerians to make more effort to live in the spirit of brotherly love, unity and selflessness.
The Archbishop made the call in his Easter message to Nigerians on Saturday.
The message was signed by the Church’s Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godoun.
It was to encourage people to see reason to live in peace with one another especially during the period of Easter celebration.
Martins said that the sacrifice that the Easter presents to man is invaluable, highlighting the imperative for peaceful co-existence.
The Archbishop noted that the 2024 Easter season offers another opportunity to reflect deeply about the love of God for humanity, offering His all for us.
According to him, people should do away with the shackles of sin and eternal damnation so as to enter into the joy of eternal beatitude.
”It is only by practicing the true virtues of love for one another and empathy at this critical period that Nigerians, irrespective of their tribe and faith, can live in true peace and harmony, not minding the grave economic and security challenges that they are facing.
“At Easter, we celebrate the resurrection of Christ which is the core of our faith as Christians.
“It is a special period when we are expected to unite with Christ by serving Him through offering our services to others, especially those who are in great need.
”Easter reminds us to continue to proclaim the mystery of our faith as Christians: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
”As we have commemorated the suffering and death of Christ and now, we rejoice in His resurrection at Easter, we must also be mindful of the spiritual implications of the season because they reveal to us the importance of sacrifice and love for one another.
”These are important virtues that we need to make more abundant and demonstrate more vigorously at this period that we are confronted with immense economic hardship, poverty, and social dysfunction,” he said.
The prelate condemned the recent murder of 17 officers and men of the Nigerian Army in Okuama Community in Delta.
He urged the federal and state governments to ensure all those found complicit were made to face the full wrath of the law.
Martins also advised the army to show restraint in the face of the provocation and allow the rule of law to take its course.
He commended the conferment of posthumous national honours on the heroes as well as the award of scholarship to their children.
The archbishop expressed the hope that they would not have any difficulty in securing the scholarship.
He called for adequate measures to safeguard the lives and improve the welfare of law enforcement agents that sacrificed much for the country.
Martins sought more stringent measures to tackle insecurity in the society.
He implored the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the food sector, to tackle the excruciating hunger and deprivation being experienced by Nigerians owing to the parlous state of the economy.