Emulate Old Testament Rulers, Pray for Citizens: Catholic Archbishop to Leaders in Nigeria

Making reference to the Sunday Gospel Reading from St. Luke, Archbishop Kaigama called on Nigerians to emulate the widow who kept bothering the judge to render a just decision for her against her adversary and persist in prayer. 

“The widow was one of the marginalized in her society, an easy target of oppression and fraud as still happens in our society,” the Catholic Archbishop said, adding, “However, her disadvantaged and marginalized status did not stop her in her pursuit of justice. She stood before the unjust judge with her petition, not taking ‘no’ for an answer. Her persistence in her pursuit for justice is worthy of emulation.”

He continued, “Like the widow, many Nigerians are being oppressed or denied justice; many teachers denied improved working conditions; many doctors and nurses frustrated and frantically relocating abroad, and those workers who remain have little job fulfillment.” 

Archbishop Kaigama who started his Episcopal Ministry in April 1995 as Bishop of Nigeria’s Jalingo Diocese said the people of God in Africa’s most populous nation “should also rise on the wings of prayer no matter how frustrating and crippling our situations may be.”

He urged “all Nigerians, to persevere in prayer and to build a trusting faith in God,” and added, “Prayers should be a way of life instead of occasional moody utterances.” 

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“God’s will is at work even in a corruption ridden society, so there is hope that even in the midst of systemic corruption, justice could still be brought about,” the Archbishop who has been at the helm of Abuja Archdiocese since November 2019 said.

He continued, “We cannot right every wrong, but we must never give up hope and stop working for the greater good. We are tasked to pray without ceasing as only God can bring about miraculous justice in a corrupt world, just as He alone can bring about healing in a sick and sinful world.” 

The 64-year-old Archbishop further urged Nigerians to be persistent in doing good deeds. 

He said, “Perseverance should be not only in prayer but also in doing good works; being civil and patriotic citizens; building healthy social relationships; working to heal past wounds, etc.”

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.