Yemisi Izuora
The Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev Alfred Adewale Martins, has appealed to Christians to remember those in captivity and unable to enjoy the freedom of being with their families, as they celebrate the season of Christmas.
Archbishop Martins, in a press release signed by the Acting Director of Social
Communications, Rev Fr Anthony Godonu, particularly singled out the plight of Leah Sharibu, a Christian, who has remained in detention for over two years in the hands of
Boko Haram adoptors, saying her continuous incarceration remains a sore point of the celebration of the yuletide.
While calling on all to remember her and all those in captivity in their prayers, he also implored President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently fulfil on his promise to effect the release of the young Leah Sharibu in order for her to unite with her family and loved ones as soon as possible.
“It is very sad that Leah Sharibu is still in detention for over two years for the single reason that she refused to jettison her Christian faith. It is a thing of pain, not only for her parents but for most people because of what she represents. When one realizes that she may not be able to join her family to celebrate this year’s Christmas, it leaves a sore point in the whole celebration. This indeed calls for a sober reflection. It is most unfortunate and regrettable that the poor girl has been left to languish in the hands of her captors for this long. One cannot but keep on insisting that this girl must not be forgotten by the people and the government. I want to appeal to the President to do all he can to bring back Leah so that she can unite with her family members once again. We must continue to put her on the front burner. And our government must never forget that until she is released, the whole country is on tenterhooks”
On the purported agenda to Islamize the country, Archbishop Martins, while not alluding to the idea, said it is the duty of government to assure all Nigerians that such allegation lacks merit in its entirety.
“The allegation that the present administration may be nursing the ambition of Islamizing
the government has been a recurring one for a while now. Government officials have always denied this. Sometimes you see things that give one the impression that there may be something in that direction. However, it beholds on government to disabuse the minds of the people. For instance, if you look at the leadership of the country at the executive, at the judiciary and at the legislature, you get the impression that it is skewed towards one direction. Also, recent appointments to vantage positions by the government also tend to give the impression that certain part of the country is being favoured above others.”
Archbishop Martins urged President Buhari to work towards uniting the country by ensuring that the interest of all Nigerians are considered when taking major decisions in the New Year in order to give them a right sense of belonging.
While wishing Nigerians a merry Christmas, he urged them not to despair over the state of the nation but to remain positive, knowing that God will never turn His back on them.
He challenged them also to reach out to those in need and share with them the joy of Christmas.
