From Debra Ajulo, Ilorin
A cross section of Catholics in Kwara state has expressed hope in the Nigeria project with the assurance that the future is bright News Hub Mag! reports.
Speaking on Tuesday during a mass held at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Fate Ilorin to mark the 59th anniversary of the country, the Bishop of Kwara diocese, Most Rev. Paul Adegboyega Olawoore assured Nigerians that the country will come out of the present dark clouds.
In the same vein, the parish priest of St. Anthony Catholic Church, Fate, Rev. Fr. Pius Ogunyebi urged Nigerians to be united and committed to one indivisible country.
On the reason for celebrating the mass, the diocesan coordinator of Catholic Social Forum (CSF), Dr. Bode Olumorin explained that it shows the belief Catholics have in Nigeria. He stressed the need for Nigerians, both leaders and followers, to be committed to the essence of bringing the country together as one unity nation.
Speaking on the activities of the Catholic Social Forum, Dr. Olumorin told our reporter that, “CSF is a brain child of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and our business is to mobilize our people for social and political issues so that they are updated with happening in the country and even beyond.
“We mobilize our people and encourage them to go into politics and play good roles. Every year we celebrate with Nigeria on October 1stwhere we hold masses like this. This is one of the masses going on all over the federation.
“In Kwara, we are celebrating here. Last year we celebrated at Akeribiata, this year it is at Fate next year will be somewhere else. As you see us here we are representatives from all over the various parishes from Kwara diocese.”
Buttressing this, the president of the entire laity in Ilorin diocese and a knight of the Catholic Church, Sir Mike Oladele told our reporter, “The essence of celebrating this mass is because the Catholic Church believes in Nigeria. We know that all hope is not lost; we have offered prayers and believe that Nigeria will bounce back on her feet very soon.”
The diocesan president said Catholics to the mass celebrate and identify with the country by wearing the national colours. “You can see us all putting on our national colours of green and white, we believe in one Nigeria and we believe that Nigeria will attain her lost glories. The present issues confronting this nation will soon be a thing of the past and Nigeria will truly be the giant of Africa.”
He commended the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) for establishing the Catholic Social Forum (CSF). “Our leaders in the Catholic Church don’t sleep over the state of the nation. Whatever is happening in Nigeria to Nigerians is the concern of our leaders. They are concerned with every Nigerian, even non-Christian,” he said.
