• Cautions politicians’ supporters against violence
Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos has charged all Nigerians to strive for peace in 2023 given the current security challenges in various parts of the country and the fact that peace constitutes the core of an enabling environment for the conduct of free, fair and inclusive elections. The Archbishop made the call while delivering his homily on the occasion of the World Day of Peace held recently at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. He tasked the citizenry to pursue peace and embrace peace building as a duty to make 2023 a year of peace. He said, “We need peace in Nigeria this 2023. Without peace, the forthcoming general elections would be a task in futility. I know many parts of the country are witnessing so much insecurity. That is why our security agencies must work round the clock to secure all parts of the country and ensure that all the criminal elements are brought to book.” Most Rev. (Dr.) Martins took the opportunity to rally Nigerians to come out in large numbers and exercise their democratic right.
The prelate said it is important to entrust the governance of the country into capable, competent and God-fearing hands. “President Mohammed Buhari has pledged that he will ensure that we have credible elections. I do not doubt that he means well. But he cannot do it all alone. We must all play our part by ensuring that we come out to vote for the right candidates and also make sure our votes count. That is a way of ensuring that our elections would be credible,” he stated. Archbishop Martins enjoined politicians and political parties to caution their loyalists and supporters against aggression and violence. The World Day of Peace instituted by St. Paul VI in 1968 is celebrated each year on January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. In a papal message sent to Heads of states across the world in commemoration of the 56th World Day of Peace, Pope Francis urged leaders to reflect on what lessons can be learned three years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Holy Pontiff, put forward three questions: “What did we learn from the pandemic? What new paths should we follow to cast off the shackles of our old habits, to be better prepared, to dare new things? What signs of life and hope can we see, to help us move forward and try to make our world a better place?” He drew attention to the fact that “certainly after directly experiencing the fragility of our own lives … the greatest lesson we learned from COVID-19 was the realisation that we all need one another.”
The Pope’s message for the 2023 World Day of Peace is entitled “No one can be saved alone: Combating COVID-19 together, embarking together on paths of peace.” He stressed, “We also learned that the trust we put in progress, technology, and the effects of globalisation was not only excessive but turned into an individualistic and idolatrous intoxication, compromising the very promise of justice, harmony, and peace that we so ardently sought.” The Holy Father emphasised that “in our fast-paced world, the widespread problems of inequality, injustice, poverty, and marginalisation continue to fuel unrest and conflict, and generate violence and even wars.” “We cannot continue to focus simply on preserving ourselves; rather, the time has come for all of us to endeavour to heal our society and our planet, to lay the foundations for a more just and peaceful world, and to commit ourselves seriously to pursuing a good that is truly common,” he said. Reacting to questions at the media interactive session, Archbishop Martins condemned the Christmas Day killing of Bolanle Raheem and her unborn twin babies by an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi now standing trial.
