Easter: Pastor Okeze Tasks Christians to Make Sacrifices

By: Ike Philip Abiagom

A religious minister, Pastor Idowu Okeze, has tasked Christians in the country on the need to make sacrifices for the greater unity, peace, political stability and progress of Nigeria during this Easter festivities.

Pastor Okeze, in an Easter message signed on good  Friday, called on Nigerians and Deltans in particular, to seize the opportunity of the Easter holiday to reflect deeply on what more they needed to do as a people, to ensure peaceful coexistence with one another in the nation’s quest for a better future for all citizens and residents of the country.

The statement reads in part: “As Christians, we must reflect on the import of Easter celebrations in our dealings, not only with other Christians, but with people of other religions.

“We must eschew bitterness and all forms of violence, because the progress, peace and security of the nation is anchored on good neighborliness and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.”

He noted that if Nigerians lived peacefully with one another they would not be confronted with issues of armed banditry, herdsmen attacks, kidnapping and other vices threatening the soul of the great country.

Okeze urged Nigerians to let the significance of the celebration reflect in their relationship with one another, adding that there was no doubt that the times were hard in the country.

He reminded Christians that having gone through forty days of fasting and prayers, Easter was a better time for them to be purged of those weights that had impeded their progress as a people over the years by demonstrating love in its fullness not only to one another but also to the society.

Okeze enjoined Christian faithful and Nigerians in general to extend the spiritual benefits of Easter, which included love, peace, justice, sacrifice and kindness to their daily living, and through these contribute to the unity and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

“The major lesson of Easter is for us as Christians to rethink the reality of our faith. As Christians, we should continue to uphold the principles of our faith as they relate to honesty, justice, integrity, accountability, compassion, selflessness and the pursuit of the common good”, he added.