In his 2017 Christmas Message made public through the
Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Msgr. Gabriel
Osu, Archbishop Martins warned that any attempt by the political class to
jettison the full restructuring of the country as is being clamoured for by the
masses and members of the civil societies, would not only set the nation back,
but may equally constitute a clog in the wheel of the successful execution of
the 2019 elections.
While noting with dismay that the political class, including
the ruling party has since commenced their usual flurry of activities ahead of
the 2019 election, Archbishop Martins called on Nigerians not to allow
themselves to be deceived anymore by mere rhetoric and promises but to insist
on the building of appropriate and realistic political structures that would
help guaranty that they enjoy access to good quality of life and self
actualization in line with God’s plans for His creatures.
Archbishop Martins equally frowned at the recent inhuman
treatment being meted on Nigerian immigrants and those of other African
countries by some Libyans and their collaborators who sell them into bondage
for monetary gains. According to him, such indignity being meted on Africans by
fellow Africans, is not only repulsive and evil, but a clear indictment of the
leadership for failing to provide the enabling environment for African youth to
have access to basic necessities of life.
He therefore wants the Nigerian government to as a matter of
urgency declare a state of emergency on the economy so as to rescue the nation
out of the woods and set-up a realistic road map that would stabilize the naira
and help the private sector create viable industries that would provide
adequate job opportunities for the teeming youths who are growing more restless
by the day.
“We need to be true to ourselves. We cannot be talking of
2019 when little is being done at the moment to address the rot in the system.
Our people are going hungry daily, our youths are dying in their quest for
better options to life outside our shores and yet our leaders appear more
concern with how to clinch to power. I think the time has come for all of us to
reason together to resolve and restructure the current the lopsided political
structures we are currently operating and set up realistic goals that would
help move us forward. Except all these are given top priority, I fear that the
2019 election may end up a mirage, after all.”
While congratulating all Christians on the occasion of the
birth of Christ, Archbishop Martins reminded them to always put their trust in
Jesus Christ who is the reason for the season, noting that the season of Advent
should also enable us to prepare with hope and expectation for the second
coming of our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ.
Nonye Dom/GEE
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