THE PRIMATE OF THE CHURCH OF THE LORD (TCL) WORLDWIDE ON EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 20TH, 2025, AT OGERE REMO, OGUN STATE
Beloved in Christ,
I wish to congratulate you on the gift of life and the grace to celebrate another Easter in the land of the living. Glory be to God! Hallelujah!
Easter is the celebration of God’s agape love for mankind. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, NKJV).
Christ’s crucifixion and death on the cross confirm His love and sacrifice for believers. He paid the supreme price to reconcile us back to God after the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, thereby fulfilling God’s redemption plan. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13, NKJV).
Our Saviour’s Resurrection is the foundation of Christianity. It confirms His victory over sin, death, and Satan. He is risen! (Matthew 28:6). His victory is our victory.
We should therefore appreciate God and live daily in the consciousness of the resurrection power. He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30, NKJV). We have been redeemed by His precious blood.
I therefore urge all believers to emulate Christ’s example of sacrifice and love in our relationships with one another. Despite the challenging times Nigeria is going through, I admonish you to keep hope alive and embrace the spirit of renewal, believing that the resurrection power is at work even in the most difficult times.
Hold firmly to the redemptive power of sacrifice, love, and unity. Just as our Lord Jesus Christ triumphed over death, we shall also triumph over all national and personal challenges.
At this juncture, permit me to use this occasion to call on the Government at all levels to give due attention to the following areas:
1. Peace and Security
It is the constitutional duty of any Government to protect the lives and property of its citizens. At a time like this, Nigerian leaders must remember their oath of office and govern with the fear of God—showing compassion and empathy to the people.
There can be no sustainable development in an atmosphere devoid of peace. Terrorism, banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, and kidnapping are widespread. The recent Plateau killings in Bokkos Local Government Area are condemnable. Perpetrators must be brought to justice. I commiserate with the bereaved families and pray for the repose of the souls departed.
It is imperative to strengthen intelligence gathering, community policing, improve border security, and control arms proliferation. The need to beef up security cannot be overemphasised. All hands must be on deck to ensure peace and security in the land.
2. Economy
The rising cost of living is worrisome. Prices of goods and services continue to skyrocket. There is an urgent need to reduce inflation. Competition is key. Local manufacturers should not be allowed to have any kind of monopoly.
I call on Federal and State Governments to continually make policies and take critical steps to ease the burden of the masses. Poverty and youth unemployment can be addressed through:
Creation of platforms for youth participation in governance,
Skill acquisition programmes,
Leveraging technology for job creation.
Diversifying the economic base through massive investment in agriculture, technology, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship, and improving access to affordable credit and microfinance are vital.
3. Inadequate Infrastructure
The poor electricity supply can be addressed through the decentralisation of power, the installation of solar microgrids in rural areas, and public-private partnerships to develop road networks and water supply.
The Federal Government should work out an arrangement to hand over the supply and management of electricity to the six Regions/Zones, while the FG controls Abuja FCT. The Regions/Zones will perform better. Generation and distribution are key factors to be considered.
4. Brain Drain in the Health and Education Sectors
Governments at all levels must urgently address the brain drain involving professionals such as nurses, doctors, and teachers.
Incentives such as:
Adequate healthcare and educational facilities,
Training opportunities,
Better remuneration, and
A conducive working environment must be provided to stem the tide of migration.
5. Corruption
Unfortunately, corruption—this hydra-headed monster—remains a major challenge, eating deep into the socio-economic and political fabric of our nation.
I call on the Tinubu-led administration to combat it frontally and courageously. The way forward includes:
Strengthening anti-corruption agencies like the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.(EFCC,)
Ensuring judicial independence and creating a Special Court for the quick administration of justice in this regard.
Digitising public services to reduce human contact and bribery,
Reintroduction of the whistleblower system.
The Constitution/Law needs to be amended, thus ensuring that those who get rich suddenly will have to prove their sources of income. The onus should not be on the prosecutor but the alleged corrupt individuals to prove their innocence.
While it is commendable that the present administration has recorded some achievements in some of the areas highlighted above, in line with its Renewed Hope agenda, a lot remains to be done.
I therefore enjoin my colleague Prelates and all believers to continue to intercede for the leadership of our nation, so that love, development, prosperity, progress, peace, security, and the dividends of democracy can be enjoyed by all and sundry.
In conclusion, I hope that the sincere and patriotic advice contained in this Easter Message will be given due consideration, for the good of all and the progress of our dear nation.
Beloved in Christ, may Easter 2025 bring peace and joy to your homes, healing to our land (countries) and Africa in general, and a renewed commitment to building a better, more just, and united Nation, in the mighty name of Jesus.
HAPPY EASTER CELEBRATION!
His Holiness, The Most Rev. Dr. Rufus Okikiola Ositelu,
The Primate of The Church of the Lord (TCL) Worldwide,
President of the World Council of Churches (WCC) from Africa
Sunday, April 20th, 2025
