The Anglican Bishop of Oyo South Diocese, Olufemi Familoni, has decried the state of insecurity in the country, expressing concern over the disregard for human life and the persistent killings, particularly in the Middle Belt region.
The bishop questioned the effectiveness of security budgets at the disposal of those in authority amid what he described as continued lapses in safeguarding lives and property.
He made these observations in his Easter message, made available to journalists on Sunday.
Familoni emphasised that no nation can progress if its citizens and property are not safe.
“We are in a state of anomie. Life no longer means anything to us in Nigeria. Terrorists strike and kill people, yet we move on as if those who died were not human beings. The government must take responsibility because the buck stops at its table.
“Nigeria cannot continue like this. Why do we vote huge sums of money for security, only to receive death and insecurity in return? Where is the money allocated to security going? Why is the government not equipping security personnel? Who is sabotaging these efforts? Why is the government not employing more hands to help combat this menace? The whole situation is befuddling,” he said.
While commiserating with families who have lost loved ones to terrorism, Familoni urged the government to stop politicising issues of security.
“The primary role of government is to protect lives; every other thing is secondary,” he stated.
The bishop also highlighted the spiritual significance of Easter, noting that the season serves as a reminder that nothing is impossible for God.
Familoni added that the rolling away of the stone symbolises the removal of pain, doubt, and sorrow.
“Most of the time, we cannot remove these stones by ourselves. We need God to help us roll away the stone of death and replace it with eternal life,” he said.
The bishop described Christ’s resurrection as the ultimate victory over evil.
“Jesus conquered the devil, evil, death, and sin to give us victory,” he stated.
He further noted that challenges such as poor leadership and corruption can be likened to “stones” that must be removed for national progress, praying that the obstacles confronting Nigerians would be lifted.
The Anglican cleric urged Nigerians to embrace the love of Christ, saying, “He alone can deliver you from your challenges. Cast all your anxiety on Jesus Christ.”
He also encouraged Christians to remain hopeful about the future.
“The story of resurrection is a clear indication for us as believers that we have a secure eternity. So we have no reason to be despondent and lose hope. God is on our side. Our future is sure because we have Christ,” he said.
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