In 2025, clerics urge hope, honesty, integrity

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has urged Nigerians to be thankful to God despite prevailing challenges.

He acknowledged that the living standards of many citizens have worsened, making begging prevalent in all nooks and crannies of the country.

Martins, however, stated that Nigerians could not afford to shut the door on hope and trust in God for a better situation.

In a statement yesterday, signed by the Social Communications Director of the Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, the Archbishop said: “Despite this fact, we cannot, but demand that government at all levels should do far better in 2025 than they have done so far in order to stem the high rate of poverty in the country, and improve the quality of lives of the citizens.”

He said the move towards a qualitative, rather than palliative, empowerment of Nigerians through creating opportunities for skills acquisitions, provision of gainful employment, and soft loan opportunities for small and medium scale industries to thrive, has become necessary because of its potential long-lasting positive impact on the nation’s weak economy.

EQUALLY, Martins reiterated hopefulness at the 50th priestly ordination of Very Rev. Msgr. (Prof.) Francis Ishola Ogunmodede at SS. Philip and James Catholic Church, Lekki, Lagos, where he highlighted the resilience of Nigerians amid economic hardships and social turmoil.

As a speaker at the event, the Archbishop noted: “This year (2024) has been extremely difficult for many of our people. The level of poverty has risen exponentially, bringing numerous challenges and troubles to individuals and communities alike. Yet, the Lord has brought us to this point.”

He stressed the significance of the Jubilee Year 2025, declared by the Catholic Church as a year to renew faith and hope.

Martins urged religious leaders to continue fostering unity.

He acknowledged factors like ethnicity, poverty, and exclusion as major issues promoting disunity, and urged politicians to address these concerns decisively.

Ogunmodede, while reflecting on the state of the nation, lamented the worsening economy, describing it as unprecedented.

He criticised the government’s approach to agriculture, advocating mechanised farming to address food insecurity.

ALSO, the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, John Oyejola, yesterday charged public office holders and others in positions of leadership and Nigerians at large to make honesty and integrity their watchwords in the New Year.

He decried scarcity of the virtues in the country and advocated the need for a change of attitude if Nigeria would experience development and economic prosperity.

In his message titled: “Living Hope and Integrity in the New Year,” the cleric acknowledged the pervasive hardship in the country, stating that every succeeding government “merely aims to out-perform its predecessor in corruption; scouting and scheming for new tricks to loot the resources of the nation.”