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A MESSAGE OF HOPE TO THE LAY FAITHFUL OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF LOKOJA
Preamble
We, the clergy of the Catholic Diocese of Lokoja, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA/LD), in the light of the current protracted socio-economic downturn and untold hardship the good people of Kogi State are currently facing, hereby wish to unanimously state as follows:
1. That we are fully aware of the yoke of poverty as well as its stench prevalent among our people for over a year now. In fact, we are all in the same fragile Titanic ship being tossed here and there by the whirlwind of economic recession almost to its sinking point. We can see in the plight of our people a reminiscence of Chinua Achebe’s two popular novels: “No Longer At Ease” and “Things Fall Apart”. Parents, a good number of them, aging poor pensioners, and the vast majority, workers, have gone without pay for over a year. Business men and women are affected as well and have become dejected because potential and regular customers – (the same unpaid workers and pensioners), have no money to make purchases from them. Even the innocent children and students whose schools may or may not be on strike, are forced to go on empty stomachs during the course of their studies and while at home. These agonies and pains are being felt by most families in the state. We are even aware that some have even died in the course of this one year of untold hardship.
2. We remain prophetic in consonance with our collective calling namely, to be the voice of the voiceless and rise to the defence of the oppressed. The Lenten message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis based on the story of the rich man and Lazarus in the gospel of St Luke 16: 19 – 31, said among other things that, although “‘the other person is a gift,’ but ‘sin blinds us’ enough not to see poverty in the faces of the many ‘Lazaruses’ created by our pomposity, opulence, greed, avarice, wastage and negligence”. Therefore, we call on all stake holders especially our Catholic brethren who are in privileged positions to advise the government to pay attention to the plight of the people. We also, through this appeal, urge the government of the day to pursue and seek the desired change with a human face. We ask that they show pity and concern for the citizens of the state since by law, the primary role of any well meaning government is the well being and security of her citizens ALWAYS. Good as infrastructural development is, only those who are alive can benefit from them.
3. Finally, dear children of God, we bring you a message of hope and encouragement. Already and thankfully, we hear that plans are on-going to pay workers all their salary arrears as well as pensioners benefits. We want this speedily done because our people have suffered enough already. We have never stopped praying for all our people and the government too. We are a people of hope and just as Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Diocese says, “hope is never in recession”. So, we believe that things will be better again. There will always be a resurrection after death for those who are in Christ Jesus and for all people of goodwill. With St Paul, we believe that “all things work together unto good for those who trust in the Lord” (Rom 8:28) and “Our God will supply all our needs in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4: 19). To Him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
We commend ourselves and our State to our Mother Mary, our Lady of Sorrows who went all the way with her Son in His Passion to journey with us too in this our period of passion. We call on all (Clergy, Religious and the Lay Faithful) to as a matter of urgency, seek the intercession of our Mother by coming together in our various Parishes at 5pm on Monday 10th April, 2017. Priests are to include an intention for this cause in their masses of the same day.
May our God who sleeps not nor slumbers, hear our cry and grant us reprieve from above. Amen!
Signed:
Very Reverend Fr. Cyril Fanaiye (Chairman)
Reverend Fr. Daniel Sule (Secretary)
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