By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye,
The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese, Most Rev. Ignatius Ayau Kaigama has called on the Federal and States Government to make judicious use of funds donated by individuals and corporate bodies in order to alleviate the plight of Nigerians.
Archbishop Kaigama gave the charged during the Palm Sunday Mass at Our Lady Queen Pro-Cathedral Abuja and beam nation wide by AIT.
Most Rev. Kaigama noted that the stay at home order is biting hard on Nigerians. He therefore called on government to make available the needs of the common man in the society. He appealed to security personnel to intimidating people on the highway and stop extortion as every Nigerian is feeling the impact of the ‘Stay at home’ order.
The Catholic Archbishop also called on the church to give the little they can to assist the government palliative.
” We must all do something and government must be sensitive to the plight of the people”.
“As a Church, our contribution will be channeled to the poor, the abandoned and the aged who are most hit by the ravaging coronavirus, he assured”.
While commending the media, Most Rev. Kaigama noted that the media is a bridge between the Church, government and the people, adding that the media has played vital role in informing the people daily on the spread of the disease called coronavirus.
In his words; ” You are here now to make sure that those who could not attend the Palm Sunday Mass due to the government order receive this at their various homes and some of you will also report this event after now”.
In a similar way, he commended medical workers for their sacrifice especially those who lost their lives in the process of saving others. He said it is a great sacrifice that most be appreciated.
Reiterating the supremacy of God, the archbishop maintained that man cannot be omnipotent and therefore called on Catholics and all to this period as a moment to get closer to God, a moment of prayer, fasting and trusting in God.
“Don’t say Jesus is on holiday because of the stay at home order, Jesus can visit you at home, and so, let him in, let the saviour into your heart and home”.
On the Palm Sunday, Archbishop Kaigama said Jesus rode on a donkey, which is a symbol of peace. ” If he had rode on horse, it would have been a military affairs, so there is need for global peace and harmony”.
“Peace is all we need in the world, and so we cry out to Jesus to heal us of coronavirus and to stop the spread of the disease”. “The last week of lent is a unique time, so we are call to prayer and fasting especially at this time when the world is experiencing the coronavirus challenge”.