In a powerful Christmas message that transcends seasonal goodwill to address the nation’s foundational challenges, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ibadan, Most Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa, has issued a clarion call for a collective national renewal. Speaking ahead of the 2025 celebrations, Bishop Akinfenwa urged leaders and citizens alike to harness the spirit of Christmas as a catalyst for rebuilding fractured trust and fostering genuine unity across Nigeria’s diverse landscape.
The bishop’s message, delivered with the moral authority of his office, arrives at a critical juncture. His call for alignment around the core Christmas tenets of love, hope, and peace is framed not as a passive wish but as an active blueprint for national healing. He posits that the incarnation—God entering human history—is a model for empathy and bridge-building that Nigerians must emulate in their daily interactions and governance.
A Foundation of Security and Justice
Moving beyond generalities, Bishop Akinfenwa provided pointed counsel to the government, emphasizing that security is the non-negotiable bedrock upon which trust and unity are built. He argued compellingly that security must be depoliticized and treated as a sacred, collective responsibility. His prescription involves a tripartite strategy:
- Enhanced Intelligence Gathering: Proactive, community-embedded intelligence to prevent crises rather than merely reacting to them.
- Properly Equipped Security Forces: Providing personnel with not only material resources but also continuous ethical and professional training.
- A Just Legal System: Ensuring that the rule of law is applied impartially, as perceived injustice is a primary driver of social unrest.
“Banditry thrives where injustice, poverty and impunity reign,” he stated, connecting criminality directly to systemic failures. His advocacy for “long-term solutions” like good governance, equitable resource distribution, and education highlights a shift from symptomatic treatment to addressing root causes of discord.
The True Essence of Celebration: Reverence Over Extravagance
In a society where Christmas is often marked by commercial excess, Bishop Akinfenwa redirected focus to its spiritual and communal heart. He recast the season as a time for “reverence and reflection,” urging Christians to embody the love they commemorate. This involves tangible actions: showing love, giving generously to the needy, actively seeking peace, and becoming agents of Christ’s light in their communities.
“Worship, prayer and acts of kindness should be central, especially in these challenging times,” he advised, framing these practices not as retreats from society but as sources of strength for engagement within it. The bishop reminded the faithful that Christmas is both a remembrance of a divine gift and a “call for us to extend love to one another”—a call with profound implications for national cohesion.
A Blueprint for Collective Action
Bishop Akinfenwa’s message ultimately serves as a multifaceted blueprint. For citizens, it is a call to personal accountability in interactions and a challenge to reject divisive narratives. For leaders, it is a demand for sincerity, decisive action, and a governance model that prioritizes human dignity and justice. For the nation, it presents Christmas as a symbolic reset point—an opportunity to choose a path defined by mutual trust, shared purpose, and a commitment to the common good. His words transform the Christmas story from a historical event into a living framework for national reconstruction, suggesting that the hope born in Bethlehem can, if embraced collectively, foster the hope desperately needed in the heart of Nigeria.
Report by Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Edited by Chinyere Omeire.
