Easter: Catholic Bishops Urge Nigerians To Hold On To Hope Amid Crisis

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has appealed to Nigerians not to surrender to despair, declaring that a new dawn is coming for the country despite its severe challenges.

The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, in his message marking Easter Sunday with the title, “The Dawn is Coming, Don’t Let Go Now, Hold On to Hope!”, acknowledged the crosses of grief and heartbreak borne by citizens due to insurgency, kidnappings and banditry.

He attributed these crises directly to many years of bad leadership, characterised by selfishness, greed, nepotism, tribalism, sectionalism, and a total lack of commitment to the common good.

Speaking on behalf of Nigeria’s Catholic bishops, the Archbishop of Kaduna drew parallels between the nation’s sufferings and the Passion of Christ, expressing prayer that the heavy stone of anguish and pain caused by the excruciating burden of bad leadership be rolled back from the hearts and lives of Nigerians.

“This is the same anguished cry of all who suffer in Nigeria today. God will not abandon His children who truly call upon Him in distress,” he said.

While assuring the faithful of God’s presence, the Archbishop issued a sobering reminder, saying, “His patience must not be taken for granted, because though merciful, He is also just; he will surely repay every man according to their deeds.”

With the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable for the 2027 general elections already released, the Easter address turned sharply toward civic duty.

Acknowledging widespread disillusionment and dangerous voter apathy, he insisted, “you cannot choose to abandon your moral duty to promote the common good.”

He urged all eligible voters to prepare their voter cards and to use the eyes of faith to ensure that only people with competence and integrity are elected.

To INEC, he admonished the electoral body to do all within its power to assure Nigerians that their votes will not only count but be seen to count, warning against disenfranchisement through administrative failures.

While addressing millions of Nigerians facing hardship, loss, and unemployment, the Archbishop offered a message of resilience rooted in Easter hope, saying, “Your scars make the promise of the Resurrection even more meaningful. Because the tomb is empty, no grave, not even the challenges facing Nigeria, can hold back the power of a new beginning.

“The dawn is coming. Don’t let go now, hold on to hope. The Risen Christ is proof that even the deepest darkness must eventually give way to light. Just as He arose, so too shall Nigeria be restored in victory into a season of peace and plenty.”