The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1, has admonished Christians that Easter should be a day filled with love, with appreciation of what God has done for mankind, days of goodwill to one’s neighbors, and days of divine expectation from the Lord.
Such actions, he stated, would transform our nation, heal our relationships, and give us the polity of our dreams.
Oba gave the admonition in his Easter message through his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaye.
According to the Paramount Ruler, “If we love with the spirit of Easter in our hearts, governance would work, electoral reforms would be easier to accomplish, funds
If it would be judiciously utilized for the good of the larger number, the leadership would love and cherish the led. That is the essence of Easter, which we commend to all Nigerians, indeed, to all humanity at this time.
He stated that it was love that took Jesus to the cross, adding that if His heart were not welling and overflowing with love, He could not have offered Himself as a sacrifice.
The Alaafin pointed out that “at this time in our country, we commend this love to all citizens.” Love that considers others first, love that prefers others above personal and selfish desires, and love that seeks to emancipate, to unshackle, and to liberate. Love, sincerity of purpose, sense of commitment, and patriotism will take us above internecine killings and other divisive tendencies. Let every Nigerian imbibe all these”.”
Oba Owoade went further: “Banditry must be stopped for the development of our country because it fundamentally disrupts the social, economic, and political structures necessary for progress.” It creates pervasive insecurity, destroying livelihoods, particularly in agriculture, which leads to food insecurity and deepens poverty. Furthermore, it stifles investment, undermines state authority, and forces the diversion of public funds from development projects to security spending”.”
He warned that there is an urgent need to collectively rise against the terror inflicted by these blood guzzlers who have no regard for the sanctity of human lives, stressing that as citizens, we must accept that collective sacrifice is inevitable, as peace has a price, and that price must be paid by all of us.
Packaged by Temitayo Afolabi
