The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, on Sunday, May 2, called for prayers against individualism, nepotism, bigotry and other forms of injustice in Nigeria. The Archbishop, in his homily of the fifth Sunday titled: “I am the vine; you are the branches” (John 15:5) delivered at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Jabi, noted that in a country faced with consuming insecurity, excruciating poverty, spiraling unemployment and the arbitrary destruction of human lives, only God can restore peace. “We should ask God for the grace of renewal, fruitful governance and a godly management of our resources, devoid of individualism, nepotism, bigotry”. According to Archbishop Kaigama, “In the face of rising challenges of all kinds in our nation, we feel duty bound to ask if those who represent our collective interests in the Presidency, Senate, House of Representatives, etc., do make the dividends of democracy come to us or they are only experiencing the fruits of democracy in their pockets and with their families and friends instead of all Nigerians”.
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Abuja noted with dismay that it is very painful and shameful that a country blessed with abundant resources, so endowed with intellectuals, professionals of eminent credentials, and a hardworking people should suffer the kind of crippling poverty and social deprivation that give birth to multidimensional violence. He reminded the faithful of the Holy Father, Pope Francis’ request that during this month of May, the month of Mary, the entire Church should invoke the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the end of the Coronavirus Pandemic; to specially remember those most affected by the pandemic by praying the Holy Rosary personally and to link up to Catholic Shrines around the world where prayers will be going on.
