A cleric, Rev. Fr. Gerard Tanko Ndaka’at, has called on Nigerian leaders to remember that all are equal before God and do the needful to help humanity.
Fr. Tanko Ndaka’at has also warned Nigerians to follow the teachings of Jesus or remain in the critical economic and political crises confronting the country.
The fiery preacher gave the warning during his homily on Independence Day at the Society of Saint Paul Catholic Church, Obawole Estate, Iju, Lagos. He declared that God was angry at the way a few individuals were looting the country’s treasury, leaving the masses in penury.
According to him: “A society that is full of inequalities, a country where our leaders grab and take it all, a country where many people cannot afford two square meals a day, a country where our leaders have turned themselves to looters, a country that is left with nothing, a country where people break their heads on the wall looking for solutions to economic crisis, begging God for assistance.
A country where joblessness is rising astronomically, where leaders abandon their duties and became looters, where our leaders can send their children to the best schools abroad and still send them to the best hospitals in the world, while the masses cannot afford two square meals, is not what will please God.
“The Nigerian situation can best be compared with the one-time critical situation in Israel and God sent prophet Isaiah to prophesy that there would be a shoot. David fought many wars and won battles.
He led the people in ideal ways; after him, his son, Solomon, led with wisdom. But when his son, Rehoboam, took over, he brought division and decided the kingdom and the ten tribes of Israel kicked against him. He fell like a tree with only the stump remaining.
“God did not abandon the Israelites, as he sent the prophet Isaiah who gave them hope that a king would come and that king would not rule by what he saw or heard but would judge with righteousness. So, there is still hope for Nigeria.
“The medicine for what we are going through is Jesus. We are going through all these difficulties because we have refused to follow the Gospel values. As far as our intention is to steal, loot and make it in unscrupulous ways, we will not move forward, we will remain in critical condition.
“Our leaders should remember the sacrificial lamb with his pastoral teachings that said ‘the spirit of God is upon me, for he has anointed me to preach the good news. He gave sight to the blind.’ We are reminded or rather told that the remedy to our situation is Jesus.
The medication is nothing but Jesus. If we follow the teachings of Jesus, which is the message of love, and praying for our enemies and for each other, why would a child not put his hands in the mouth of a lion and it will not hurt him?
“The reason the country is this way is that we have refused to follow the teachings of Jesus. The moment we have a rethink and follow him, society will be at peace. We should follow the virtuous ways of Mother Mary, who should be our GPS. The Church is calling on everyone to follow Mary, who lived a spotless and humble life, as our GPS. She is the Queen and patroness of Nigeria.
“For we that are led, what is your contribution to the society? As a husband, how are you treating your wife and children? As a wife, how are you treating your husband and children? And, as children, what is your role in your nuclear home? As an employer of labour, how do you treat your employees? And, as an employee, how do you handle your duty? You should contribute your quota, while our leaders should shun the spirit of division, anarchy and all forms of evil, and the country will move forward.”
