Catholic Bishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has tasked political leaders to rebuild the trust of youths in their fatherland through good leadership to secure the future of the country.
He made the call in an interview with newsmen on the sideline of Christmas Carol organised by Managing Director, Prezzo Shed Investments Limited, Mr Emmanuel Njoku, on Thursday night in Abuja.
The event tagged ‘Carol Night of Nine lessons and songs’, attracted the scintillating Abuja Choral Ensemble, clerics and other Nigerians from different background.
According to Onaiyekan, the youths have lost hope and trust in the country because of successive bad leadership at all levels.
He lamented that the youths frustration was demonstrated in their willingness to leave the country in their hordes to Europe and other parts of the world in search for a better life.
The former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) warned that if nothing was done urgently to reverse the tide, the future of the country would be bleak.
“Unfortunately, young people have lost confidence in the country and they are leaving, that is not good news.
“The nation whose youths are running away has no future and our political leaders need to rebuild their trust.
“The leaders are supposed to organise all sectors in such a way that nobody is hungry and that people are not running into poverty.
“Every day we are hearing that the rate of poverty is increasing, that is not good news, and If I was the president, I would be ashamed.
“But I will not ‘japa’, I am not going anywhere, I will stay here and continue to shout that the right thing should be done, and you cannot turn what is wrong into right,” he said.
In his short sermon, Onaiyekan urged Nigerians to use the season to share what they have with their neighbours, as giving was what characterised the message of Christmas.
He said: “Resist the temptation of monopolizing Jesus in the Christmas season and share the joy of Christmas with everyone.
“If you can help one or two persons do just that, because we must all do what we can to reach out to our neighbors this season,” he said.
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Njoku, who was the host, said the Carol Night was an annual event organised to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and to reechoe the message of love for neighbor and humanity.
“Christmas represents giving and love, which is what God did for us by giving us Jesus Christ, and we must also demonstrate that to others,” he said.
Highpoint of the event was the cutting of the Christmas cake by the host and his family, flanked by clerics and was followed by sections of songs performances.