Vicar-General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Monsignor John Aniagwu has said the nation is in need of leaders who are peacemakers rather than warmongers.
According to Aniagwu, due to the existence of leaders who are merchants of violence, the country is so divided as if in a state of war.
Aniagwu stated this while giving the homily at the 75th birthday thanksgiving mass for the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, Most Reverend Gabriel Abegunrin, held at the Church of Ascension, Bodija, Ibadan, on Friday.
Referencing the celebrant who he described as a peacemaker, Aniagwu said the nation would not experience the desired progress except it has a rich number of peacemakers in leadership positions.
He explained the fact that the nation had a huge number of purveyors of violence is typified by the fact that politicians view elections into public office as a do or die affair.
Aniagwu described as baffling the fact that the government is quick to declare lockdown, no movement on days of election, deploying huge personnel of all security agencies portraying election as war.
Like Abegunrin, the homilist stressed that the nation needs a servant-leader in positions of authority not those keen on the capture of power to exert their will on the followers.
Recounting the years of priesthood of Bishop Abegunrin, thus far, Aniagwu said the celebrant as a humble, listening, prudent priest, a peacemaker, servant-leader and a veritable child of God.
Secretary General, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Very Reverend Father Michael Banjo, who delivered the message of the President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Ugorji remarked that Archbishop Abegunrin worked with humility, showing love for God and neighbours.
The celebration had a litany of priests, Laity and clergy that included Bishops John Oyejola (Osogbo), Peter Odetoyinbo (Abeokuta), Francis Obafemi (Ijebu-Ode), Bulus Yohanna (Kotangora), Jude Arogundade (Ondo), Felix Ajakaye (Ekiti), Alfred Martins (Lagos).
Also present were Bishop Emeriti, Francis Alonge (Ondo), Ayo-Maria Atoyebi (Ilorin), Julius Adelakun (Oyo), Felix Alaba Job (Ibadan); Oba Eddy Oyewole; Oba Isioye Dada; Senator Iyiola Omisore; Dr Olu Aina; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; amongst others.