Nigerian Clerics Condemn Leaders Over Insecurity, Reject Easter Greetings
As Christians across Nigeria join global celebrations for Easter, prominent clerics have launched a scathing critique of the country's political leaders, accusing them of broken promises and a lack of commitment to safeguarding lives and property. In separate Easter messages, these religious figures expressed deep frustration, arguing that leaders should refrain from issuing what they deem hypocritical greetings until concrete steps are taken to address the rampant insecurity plaguing the nation.
Voices of Criticism from Church Leaders
The clerics who voiced their concerns to The Guardian include Most Reverend Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, the Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese; Most Reverend Chibuzo Raphael Opoko, Methodist Bishop and Archbishop of Umuahia; Most Reverend Valerian Okeke, Archbishop of Onitsha; and Most Reverend Isaac Nwaobia, Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Aba. They unanimously highlighted the failure to protect communities and tackle violence, with Badejo specifically condemning leaders who make empty promises while Nigerians suffer mass casualties.
Badejo questioned how Nigeria, as Africa's most populous country, has become helpless in the face of escalating criminality. He called on President Bola Tinubu to speak clearly and act urgently on his mandate, emphasizing that Nigerians are tired of condolences and apologies. Citing Pope Leo XIV's words that God does not listen to war mongers, Badejo pointed to recent massacres in Jos, Kaduna, and Zamfara, stating that God will not heed leaders who allow needless deaths. He declared that only one Easter wish is acceptable: decisive action to secure Nigerian lives and crush the perpetrators, whoever they may be.
Call for National Regeneration and Security Prioritization
Opoko described Nigeria as bleeding seriously, from the northern hills to the southern forests, with soil soaked in innocent blood. He stressed that Easter symbolizes resurrection and should serve as a blueprint for national regeneration, but this requires leaders to crucify their selfish interests. Opoko criticized the display of power through armored convoys and reckless spending, which he said disconnects leaders from the suffering masses. He lamented that politics has become a do-or-die affair, with security often neglected amid greed, corruption, and violence.
Opoko urged leaders to view power as a responsibility to protect lives, not a privilege to destroy them, and called on security agencies to prioritize public safety over personal gain. Nwaobia echoed this, reminding the Federal Government that Easter calls for sacrificial, people-centered leadership. He expressed deep concern over persistent attacks in Northern Nigeria, urging strengthened security architecture and justice for victims. Nwaobia also criticized the recent petrol price hike, warning it exacerbates economic fragility and burdens citizens.
Economic Woes and Faith-Based Appeals
Nwaobia described Easter as a cornerstone of Christian faith, offering hope over despair, and advised Nigerians to live transformed lives with compassion for the vulnerable. Okeke bemoaned unfulfilled promises, insecurity, and joblessness, emphasizing that faith must be accompanied by good works and prayers to overcome challenges. He urged Nigerians to maintain hope and dedication in their duties.
Additionally, Rt. Revd. Prof. Samuel Ike, Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, condemned the insecurity highlighted by Nigeria's ranking as the fourth most terror-affected country in the Global Terrorism Index. He questioned the effectiveness of security budgets, digital intelligence, and drone technology, and criticized lobbying efforts abroad to downplay the crisis. Ike also rued economic difficulties from the Middle East war, querying why local refineries remain ineffective despite billions spent on reactivation.
Reflecting on Easter's message, Ike charged Christians to become change agents, embracing peace instead of violence through terrorism and banditry. The clerics' collective message underscores a demand for tangible action over symbolic gestures, as Nigeria grapples with security and economic crises.
