Bishop Emmanuel Badejo of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, on Saturday, urged Nigerians not to be despair in the face of the current challenges facing the country.

Badejo in his Easter message urged Nigerians to be hopeful especially in God’s goodness and in his power to turn things around when we all work with him.

He urged Nigerians to sympathise and support those that were most hit by the current woes of Nigeria.

“Trials produce patience and from patience come merit; merit is the source of hope.

“We must sympathise and support all who are most hit by the current woes of Nigeria and we must discourage the growing trend of suicide and despair.

“All the challenges of this world, recession, difficulties, war diseases and injustice become  understandable through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“Without Good Friday there can be no Easter Sunday. The message of Easter Sunday for Nigerians is that no one should ever despair of our situation.

“The son of God went into the deepest abyss of suffering and disgrace, crucified like a common criminal; but at the end, he was given in his resurrection, a name that is greater than any other name.

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“We must caution the institutions of society who teach that poverty, hardship or illness occur only because of sin or because one is out of favour with God.

“Sin and crime of course should be condemned, negativity rather compounds the problem,’’ he said.

Badejo urged Nigerians to reflect on the lessons of Easter by being obedient and humble themselves before God.

“Easter is the feast of Jesus’ resurrection, the resurrection of Jesus is not an isolated event of history and it is closely related to and derived from his passion and death on the cross.

“He humbled himself by being obedient to death, death on the cross,’’ he said.

The cleric urged Nigerians to do the right thing and turn to God, adding that He alone can change the situation of the country.

“There can always be a better tomorrow when we do what is right; God will turn our race to grace that is the authentic Christian and the resurrection spirit,’’ he said. (NAN)