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Bishop Tasks FG On Security
The Bishop of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Lagos Mainland Diocese, Rt. Rev. Adebayo Akinde has charged the government to exercise the political will needed to protect Nigerians.
Akinde, who was responding to the Christmas eve bombings in Jos which killed some people, noted that it was the responsibility of government to protect its citizens.
The cleric spoke with newsmen on Saturday after the Christmas Service at St. Jude’s Anglican Church Ebute Meta.
“The government must have the courage and political will to rise up and protect the citizens of the country. We cannot be losing lives without any justifiable cause.
“Clearly the president of this country has sworn to do that. What else is he waiting for?
“We have the military— the army, the navy, the air force. We have the police as well. I will not believe that the Nigerian military is not equipped enough to suppress such occurrences,” Akinde said.
On Christmas, Akinde said God sent His Son Jesus Christ to save mankind from their sins and urged men and women to appropriate the gift of God’s salvation through Christ.
“So, we call on every Nigerian to be godly and appropriate God’s gift of Jesus Christ so that He will give us His gift of godliness.
“Unrighteousness is rife everywhere in this country, from governance to the house of God; but God has given us grace to live better and godly lives, so, let us appropriate it and be godly in our values, in our speech and actions.
“A situation where a few persons benefit from the nation’s resources while many people are wallowing in abject poverty induces sin. The action is sinful. The fallout too will be sinful.
“God hates sin as the bible shows. So, as we commemorate the birth of the savior of mankind, let us appropriate the gift of Jesus Christ in our lives and commit ourselves to godliness”.
According to Akinde, it is godliness that exalts a nation but sin brings reproach to a people.
Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Octavos Moo, the Secretary General, West African Catholic Bishops Conference, has said that peace, love and care, which are the essence of Christmas, must be reflected in the society.
Moo, who spoke with newsmen at the vigil mass to herald the Christmas, said in Abuja that peace and love were still missing in the society.
He said “Christ can, in the incarnate of man, save us and bring everlasting life to us. It is expected that Christians should reflect this in their daily lives.
“Show love to the people around, sacrifice as Christ did, be instrument of peace everywhere, forgive one another because God has done so for us, urged Nigerians.
“This is still lacking in our society and if corruption and hatred are still witnessed in our society, then we have not started practicing the message of Christmas.”
He condemned the attitude of some people toward the materialism they associated with Christmas, saying: “Christmas is not about travelling or buying new things.