Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, has on Sunday in an Easter message to the nation described the Season as one of suffering and crying for redemption.
Bishop Kukah further disclosed that for Christian followers, Easter is the most sacred and significant event in our faith a season of the Cross, and of Christ’s victory over death. Yet, this triumph came through the blind passion and cruelty of those who crucified innocence.
I invoke the metaphor of the cross to call attention to the anguish and suffering that have engulfed our nation in recent years. What we face now is a culture of brutality and savagery unlike anything witnessed in Nigeria’s history.
He said from north to south, our citizens live in fear, many of them kidnapped, brutalized, or murdered. No home, no family, no community has been spared. A dark cloud of death hangs over the nation.
Mr. President, our country is teetering on the edge, slowly turning into a massive national morgue. I implore you: with urgency and compassion, bring us down from this cross of suffering.
You Did Not Raise This Cross, But We Bleed Upon It
Mr. President, we acknowledge that you did not erect this cross, nor did you orchestrate our collective crucifixion. Yet, Nigerians have been bleeding upon it for far too long.
A sense of hopelessness has crept into the national psyche. Many now question our capacity to live in peace and security. Despite this despair, Christians are called to hope for hope is our anchor (Heb. 6:19). Let us renew this hope. Let us light the flame again. You, Mr. President, must lead the charge.
In Crisis, We Look to the Cross—and to Leadership
In times like these, when our navigational compass is broken and the road to greatness is unclear, Christians are reminded to look unto Jesus—the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2).
Like the elders who mocked Christ and demanded he come down from the cross (Matt. 27:40), we, too, are tempted to question, to despair. But we must hold firm.”
“The cross remains our source of strength (Gal. 6:14). Mr. President, renew our faith by leading us down from this cross of brutality and despair. This must be a season of hope, not abandonment.”
A Pilgrimage of Hope in a Land of Pain
All is not lost. Our hope is fortified by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, who has declared 2025 the Year of Hope, under the theme Pilgrims of Hope.
He understands the storms of violence, despair, and loss that rage across our world. He reminds us that uncertainty can breed both faith and fear.
In Nigeria, marauders, murderers, and predators have paved a road to despair. They tear at the fabric of our unity and threaten our very existence.
Mr. President, dismantle these forces of darkness and bring us down from this cross of hopelessness and cynicism.
Hunger and Hopelessness Must Not Define Us
Hunger, disease, and desolation are widespread. While the removal of fuel subsidies was a necessary economic step, it must now translate into visible, tangible change for the common good.”
“Resources are availableyet for more than a decade, farming has been a deadly occupation. Palliative distributions, while well-intentioned, rob our citizens of dignity.”
“Food security must become a fundamental right. Mr. President, bring us down from this cross of hunger and helplessness.”
The Cancer of Insecurity
Years ago, some political actors confessed to inviting violence into our borders to serve their political interests. That monster has since grown uncontrollably. What began as a strategy has become an existential crisis.
“Bandits have embedded themselves in every aspect of our lives. Kidnapping has become a tool of terror, undermining the very foundations of our society.
“This cancer of insecurity threatens our shared humanity. Mr. President, confront this evil with unflinching resolve. Bring us down from this cross of chaos.”
The Dance of Death Must End
Most Nigerians simply want to live in peace. But continued insecurity erodes the public’s faith in government.
Every day, frustration festers, while many believe that the state has become a helpless spectator in the face of unending bloodshed.
‘We are at a crossroads: does this insecurity reflect the failure of our security forces, or are there darker interests at play—those who benefit from fueling their own war machines? Are Nigerians the sacrificial lambs in a sinister ritual? Mr. President, history is watching.
” Step forward with courage. Lead us down from this cross of shame.”
The Light of Easter Must Guide Us
The resurrection of Jesus empowers us to confront our challenges with courage. As we celebrate Easter, we must remember that God’s law is written on our hearts (Rom. 2:15). Structural failures and endemic corruption must never become excuses for inaction.
“We are the light of the world, a city on a hill. We must wield the light of Christ to banish the darkness that threatens to consume our nation. Let us rise as a people united in purpose, committed to healing our land.
“I wish you, Mr. President, a blessed Easter. May hope, peace, and purpose guide your leadership. And to all Nigerians, may this season bring renewal, strength, and lasting peace,” Bishop Kukah averred.
