The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, the Most Reverend Callistus Onaga, has urged Nigerians to use the occasion of this year’s Christmas to end violence and killings in the country.
Onaga stated this in his Christmas message at his residence at Independence Layout, Enugu.
The bishop said there were need for Nigerians to stop killing and violence but strife to relate well with one another irrespective of their tribe, religion and culture.
He said, “My wish for all of us in Nigeria, is that this Christmas will be a very special one and help us to see the necessity to love one another.
“Let peace reign my dear brothers and sisters, and may the peace of Christ who left everything he had as God came down to lift us up reign in our hearts this Christmas.
“In the New Year, I pray that we use the effect of Christmas to launch into 2023.
Onaga also urged political leaders to be close to their people so the people can feel their smell, stressing that, “If a good leaders is really going to deliver to the people, he have to come down to them.
“They feel them and if they are too far away from them, they won’t know them, smell them or know their needs”.
He explained that God showed good example of leadership by sending his only begotten son to the world for humanity to know he loves them.
The clergyman described it as unfortunate that some the Local Government Chairmen live in Abuja and they are running a place like in Udi in Enugu, saying there would be no connectivity between them and the people.
Onaga, however, said humanity should appreciate God for sending his only begotten son to save mankind, describing Christmas as light and not darkness.
“Ironically and paradoxically, people do bad things in the name of celebrate Christmas, they get money by all means to celebrate it but it is the wrong understanding of celebrating Christmas.
“We are rejoicing and thanking God that this year with all the difficulties we had in Nigeria, especially in the southeast region, people are still celebrating Christmas,” Onaga said.
On 2023 general election, Onaga said Nigeria had always sitting in a very precarious situation as they preparing for general elections.
He said 2023 was a very decisive year for Nigerians given the economic, political, social and cultural crisis they found themselves in.
“As kings of peace and justice is going to be born, may the celebration of this year help us to see the necessity to bring peace to our people during the 2023 election.
“This is a year that can make or unmake Nigeria but my prayer is the year 2023 will be more brighter and promising, bring our oneness in our diversity,” he prayed.
On Security crisis, bishop Onaga noted if all of Nigerians put hands together in 2023 to seek best way out of the quagmire and difficulty, Nigeria would be better.
Therefore, “May we seek peace by planting justices, love and being tolerant with one another in 2023 beginning from our household to community, state and nation in general,” he said.
