A Catholic priest, Rev Fr. Charles Odeyemi has warned that the current challenges the country is grappling with is not as a result of ethnic diversity but rather our individual actions and selfish desires, especially by the leadership and those in position of authority working to destabilise Nigeria. Rev Fr. Charles Odeyemi spoke on Sunday, September 18, 2022 on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary celebration and Feast Day of St. Cyprian Catholic Church Oko-Oba, Agege, Lagos. The month of September is set aside every year to honour and celebrate the patron Saint of the Church, St. Cyprian and the Church’s Cultural Day. Reflecting on the readings and gospel of the day, Fr. Charles Odeyemi noted that if people must speak truth to power and choose not to compromise their positions, or water down the fact, and act decisively in whatever capacity they find themselves, like prophet Amos to the Israelites, the poverty and disease that have plagued the nation in the midst of plenty would have been a thing of the past. He charged the congregation to pray for their leaders rather than hate and curse them for inflicting pains and untold hardship on the citizenry through bad governance, insisting that condemning them will only worsen the situation than salvage it.
He noted that if it is well with our leaders it will be well with the people. Fr. Odeyemi encouraged the rich to invest on people and not to store up their riches that would not win them favour in the side of God. In his words, “the money you are worshiping and piling up would one day be squandered by those who did not labour for it when you die.” Earlier on in his introductory rites, Very Rev Fr. Richard Fasuyi, the parish priest said this special day is one to be remembered as the Church celebrates its 40th Anniversary and marks her Cultural Day, describing the country’s heritage and traditions as deeply rich in values which should be sustained. Quoting him, “our culture is the totality of who we are as a people worth celebrating at times like this.” This year’s Feast and Cultural Day was spearheaded by two societies St. Patrick and Archangels for the South-South region.
The event also witnessed the sending off of Rev Fr. Anthony Ntia OSJ, former Associate Parish priest who is now the Parish priest of St. Mark Catholic Church, Mowo, Badagry Deanery and welcoming of Rev Fr. Ebuka Afomah, the new Associate Parish priest. At the reception proper had the different geo-political zones, South-South, SouthEast, South-West and the Northern regions exhibiting and staging their cultures and traditions with mouth-watering dishes, snacks, drinks, and of course, dance and other forms of entertainment. There was also an award given to some people for their contributions to the growth of the Church.
