A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Joshua Achir, has urged government officials, politicians and other Nigerians to rediscover sincerity, love and compassion as core values needed to confront the country’s lingering insecurity, displacement and social tensions.
Achir, who spoke at the Carols of Nine Lessons organised by St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Trikania, Kaduna, said Christmas goes far beyond festivities, stressing that the season calls for deeper reflection on honesty, truthfulness and shared humanity as exemplified by the birth of Jesus Christ.
The cleric, who is also the parish priest of the church, lamented what he described as a glaring lack of sincerity in governance and public life, noting that this deficit has continued to fuel conflicts and humanitarian crises across the country.
According to him, many of Nigeria’s challenges would have been mitigated if the leaders and the citizens had genuinely acted in the collective interest of one another.
In his remarks, the chairman of the Christmas Carol Planning Committee, Pwajok Dung, described Christmas as a season of unity and joy, noting that lasting peace must begin from the smallest units of society.
He explained that harmony within families and local communities forms the foundation for unity at the state and national levels, urging Nigerians to strengthen bonds of love and togetherness during the season.
Similarly, the president of the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), Makera Deanery, Mrs. Nneka Patrick, said Christmas symbolises joy and compassion and called on women and families to extend care and support to the underprivileged.
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