Yemisi Izuora
Msgr. Gabriel Osu, the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos has called on the country’s political leaders to be sincere by fulfilling their electoral promises to the masses.
Osu said this at the induction of some members of the Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN) at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church Lekki, Lagos.
Osu who was the chief celebrant at the Mass and assisted by Rev Fr Ehiedu Emmanuel told the congregation in his homily that when leaders exhibited sincerity of purpose in relating with their followers, they would be speaking with authority to them.
He added that they would aslso command respect and good followers from the citizens also.
After all the promises they made to the masses during electioneering, they never fulfilled them.
“Also, lecturers, civil servants and judges are not sincere to the public in the discharge of their statutory functions, ” he said.
The priest advised them to make sincerity of purpose their watchword for all to have a country of their dreams.
”We are being reminded that deeds are more important than words.”
Osu said that Nigerians were very good at initiating policy statements without translating them into concrete actions that would be beneficial to the masses.
The prelate said that the country would stop experiencing killings and blood shedding when government’s policies become meaningful and relevant to the yearnings and aspirations of the masses.
He said that the change we were asking for had to start from the individual before it could spread round the country and pray for God to give us good leaders.
Osu also advised the media and CAMPAN members to always be truthful and sincere in their reportage and reminded them that they occupied strategic positions in national development.
CAMPAN is an association of journalists who profess the Catholic faith and working in Catholic Church owned as well as secular media organisations.
They are expected to use their professionalism to promote positively the teachings, doctrines and the activities of the Catholic Church within and outside the church alongside promoting national interest, unity and peace of the country.
Osu said, “Journalists in general and Catholic social communicators should always perform their duties with sincerity of purpose that will make Nigeria better.
”We should be faithful to our calling as journalists.
“For us to have good and sincere leaders, we have to start the attitudinal change of rejecting social vices from or individual lives, by being truthful in all our endeavours.
“That as we listen to God’s words, we should not harden our hearts. Whatever our calling, married or unmarried, we should be truthful to such callings.
“Proverbs 23:13 says one who is sincere, who practicses what he preaches will experience God’s divine favour.
“We pray that the good Lord will touch our hearts to be sincere and have the authority to do what we ought to do,” he said.
The archdiocesan President of CAMPAN, Mr Tony Agbugba, also enjoined the members to always show love to one another as demonstrated by Jesus Christ while on earth.
The chairman of the induction planning committee, Mrs Neta Nwosu congratulated the newly inducted members.
She advised them not to rest on their oars in the discharge of their duties to God and humanity.