Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra state, has urged Christians to adopt the teachings of humility and love for one another during the Lenten period as a standard for their relations with fellow country men and women.
Obi, who made the remarks in his Easter message, also urged Christians to show commitment to the wellbeing of the country and remember her in their prayers.
He said the cardinal teachings of the faith are anchored on love, tolerance, forgiveness and accommodation of one another.
The PDP presidential aspirant congratulated Christians for successfully observing the 40-day lenten spiritual exercise and urged them to reflect the lessons of the exercise in their dealings with others.
He said “as Christ gave his life on the cross to save mankind from eternal damnation, let us show love to one another. In our moments of merriment, let us remember the less privileged among us and extend to them, a hand of fellowship.
“Easter calls for sober reflection. It is a moment to look back and chart a better path in our relationship with God and man.
“I urge us to spare time to pray for our country, Nigeria, especially in its present trying moments, occasioned by debilitating economic challenges, ethnic strife and spiraling insecurity.
“Let us also ask God to direct our leaders on the path of honesty and sincerity as the country inches into an election programme, next year.
“May the lessons of the 40-day lenten season guide us in showing love and compassion in our relations with our fellow country men and women,” he stated.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")