Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, has urged Nigerians to maintain their faith and trust that God will release our country from the chains of bad leadership and the resulting poverty, injustice, inequity, and marginalisation.
He urged the citizenry to have hope that Nigeria would eventually find its way back to a state of peace and prosperity.
In his Christmas message for 2022, Archbishop Martins wrote that just as Jesus’ birth on Christmas night brought redemption to all of humanity, his coming at Christmas this year will bring a positive transformation to the socio-economic and political landscape of the country. The message was signed by the Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu.
The archbishop argued that Christmas should remind Nigerians that God has not forgotten them. But the time of triumph over those who want to see us go backwards is almost nigh.
“Just as Christmas begets hope for humanity, so also it heralds hope for our country Nigeria, particularly when millions of citizens are in pain and frustrated due to hardship in the land. We must cultivate the spirit of expectancy.
“Just as the story of Christmas is the story of God’s unending love for us, my message to you is that God loves us, and so his love is bound to beget hope; hope for a better tomorrow. As the Prophet Isaiah prophesied, our salvation is close at hand.”
“However, as they say: heaven helps those who help themselves, so all Nigerians need to do the needful; we must all pay keen attention to the political happenings as we look forward to the general elections coming up next year. All eligible Nigerians who have registered must take time to go and get their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) and come out en-masse to cast their votes in February and March 2023. We must ensure that we cast out votes not on the basis of primordial sentiments but on the bases of character, capacity, competence and demonstrated disposition to change the fortunes of this great nation,” Martins said.
The archbishop advised Nigerians not to sell their votes to the highest political bidder for money to protect their future and their children’s future, and he prayed for the spirit of discernment to help them elect the proper leaders in the upcoming elections.
He made a similar call to the political elite, urging them to let God’s dread motivate them to further the common good rather than the interests of a select few.