A Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Owusu has revealed that if Christians, especially Catholics, allowed the spirit they received at baptism and confirmation to work in them, Nigerians would have enjoyed greater freedom and be more united. He said it was unfortunate that issues such as kidnapping, corruption, disunity, fighting, tribalism, nepotism and so on, are still bedeviling the country in spite of her 62 years of existence as a country. Fr. Owusu, a Ghanaian priest holidaying in Nigeria stated this at St. Rita Catholic Church, Obadeyi, Agege recently, in his homily to celebrate Nigeria’s 62nd Independence anniversary and feast of Our Lady Queen and Patroness of Nigeria. The soft-spoken priest, who frowned at the increasing rate of criminality and other social vices in the country, recalled that those who fought for Nigeria’s Independence, “fought not for a particular tribe or people but for the entire country.” He added: ” The freedom was for Nigerians to live together in peace and unity.
Why are there issues that are tearing us apart. Why are we fighting among ourselves even in the church? When two people want to marry and they come from different tribes, there are issues, even when seeking for positions in the church issues would arise. Did the freedom fighters fight or shed their blood in vain?” He lamented. It is our turn as Christians to live in peace. Fr. Owosu said Nigeria could be richer in Africa if the resources available in the country such as land size, the people, diverse cultures, vegetation were properly managed. “What we have to be our richness has become our undoing because of selfishness, thereby condemning people into poverty and hardship in this great country, Nigeria. He described as “unfortunate” the good number of Christians in government who could not make any meaningful impact.
Dwelling on the first reading of the day from Isaiah 11:1-10, Fr. Owusu said, ” the coming of the Messiah is the freedom of humanity, to bring peace, joy, spirit of might, knowledge of God to the world. He called on Catholics to use October, a month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to pray for Nigeria, ahead of the 2023 general election and to seek God face. In his comment before the end of the mass, the Parish priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Afrifa, regretted that many Nigerians did not love Nigeria as their country. “I have observed that many car owners have the flags of other countries in their cars but hardly would you find Nigeria’s flag proudly hoisted by these drivers. ” Let us therefore, love our country, pray for our country and the leaders.” Fr. Afrifa advised.
