Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev Dr Callistus Valentine Onaga, has called on Nigerians to embrace hope and responsibility despite worsening economic hardship, insecurity and global crises.
He made the call in his Easter message delivered on Friday,at the Bishop’s Court,Enugu.
Bishop Onaga said the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ comes at a time of “peculiar difficulty” both globally and within Nigeria, but stressed that the essence of Easter remains hope.
“We are celebrating hope. Easter is all about hope,” he declared, noting that just as Christ triumphed over suffering and death, Nigerians must believe that their present challenges will not last forever.
He lamented the state of insecurity in the country, describing it as more than communal clashes.
According to him, “it is no more a question of talking of herdsmen and farmers… it is now very clear that it is an attempt to institute caliphate in Nigeria.”
Onaga also pointed to global tensions, including the war in Ukraine and rising geopolitical conflicts affecting oil and economic stability, saying these realities have compounded the hardship faced by citizens.
He urged Nigerians to translate the spiritual discipline of Lent into concrete action, saying that Easter should not be treated as a mere annual ritual.
“If we have really disciplined ourselves it should reflect in our individual lives. Let it not just be we’ve done it and it’s over,” he said.
Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, MostRev Dr CVC Onaga
Addressing leaders at all levels, the bishop called for sincerity and people-oriented governance. Without directly condemning the presidency, he stressed that more must be done to restore public confidence.
“A lot needs to be done to convince people in Nigeria that he really cares,” he said, adding that temporary relief measures such as distribution of food items were insufficient to address the depth of hardship.
“Somebody giving one bag of rice, for how long would that person eat it?” he queried, urging authorities to revisit policies and make life more bearable for citizens.
He further charged media practitioners to uphold ethical standards, warning against sensationalism and misinformation.
“Don’t tell lies but at the same time, don’t exaggerate falsehood or evil just to have your news heard or read,” he cautioned.
Onaga called on all Nigerian leaders, professionals, traders and ordinary citizen to play their part in rebuilding hope across the country.
“If we do that, we can truly celebrate the resurrection with a point to produce hope for all,” he said.
