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“Good Friday calls on leaders in Nigeria to work for a better world”: Nigerian Bishop

Good Friday, the second of the three days of the Pascal Triduum commemorating the day Jesus was crucified at Calvary, invites leaders to look at the life of Jesus Christ and work toward “a better world,” a Nigerian Bishop says in a reflection shared with ACI Africa.

“Good Friday calls on leaders in Nigeria and all over the world, be they politicians, religious leaders, traditional, family, business and economic leaders too, to work for a better world like Jesus did,” Bishop Emmanuel Badejo says in his reflection.

In the reflection shared with ACI Africa April 1 ahead of Good Friday, Bishop Badejo highlights the value of servant leadership, urging leaders, in the example of the person of Jesus Christ, to make sacrifices “for your people and seek their interest for Jesus laid down his life in total selflessness.” 

“Leaders of all categories should eschew selfish interests and greed in order to create a peaceful and harmonious world. It is a desirable thing for all,” the Local Ordinary of Nigeria’s Oyo Diocese who doubles as the President of the Pan African Episcopal Committee for Social Communications (CEPACS) says.

He cites the Gospel of Matthew, calling on leaders to call to Jesus’ advocacy for servant leadership saying, “The first among you must be your servant…The son of man has come to serve, not to be served and to lay down his life as a ransom for many.”

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“Jesus is the one leader that the leaders of the world in every way can confidently emulate,” Bishop Badejo says in his reflection titled, “Stop Violence, Obey God, Love One Another.”

For people of all nationalities and religions of the world, the Nigerian Bishop says, “Good Friday condemns the current: dog eat dog situation of wars, conflict, violence and bloodshed all over the world.”

“From the pulpit of the cross, Jesus cries out for an end to hatred, corruption, selfishness, racism, discrimination and wickedness. God is always good. He made a world that is good,” the 59-year-old Bishop says in his reflection.

He continues, “Human beings must stop destroying the world and destroying one another. Humanity cannot win a war against itself.”

“We must sit down and realize that we are of the same stock, children of one God and live accordingly,” the Nigerian Bishop says and adds, “Every life that is snuffed out, every child that is killed, is a defeat for humanity.”

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“Jesus paid the price so that among us all violence and bloodshed may stop,” Bishop Badejo further says, adding, “On Good Friday, Jesus calls in us all never to lose hope. The cross is a powerful weapon against evil if we live by its values. The blood that Jesus shed on Calvary will never lose its power.”

“Christians are enjoined to hold firmly to the cross with faith and trust in God while doing good to all. The cross we carry shall end with the joy of Easter. That is our calling and destiny,” Bishop Badejo who has been at the helm of Nigeria’s Oyo Diocese since November 2009 says.

He further says that “Good Friday is a call to holiness, to obey God and do his will. Jesus did God’s will, difficult as it might be and laid down his life. (Phil 2). We must seek to please God by shunning our sinful ways.”

“Good Friday reminds us to love one another,” Bishop Badejo says and urges all to “share your goods with one another in love.”

“Love is the most powerful tool with which to create a better world,” the Nigerian Bishop says and continues, “Love demands that we work for justice and fairness to all. Love begets love and we have nothing if we have no love.”

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In his reflection ahead of Good Friday, the Catholic Bishop who was ordained Co-adjutor Bishop of Oyo Diocese in October 2007 urges the people of God in Africa’s most populous nation to “remember Jesus’ call to us to carry our cross and follow him. The world is not perfect and there will be pains and sorrow but we have a model to follow: Jesus Christ.”

“Let us work together for peace, justice and let love return to experience again one world and one humanity,” Bishop Badejo says in his reflection shared with ACI Africa.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.