The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on Nigerians to embrace the priceless values and virtues embodied in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
The APC urged Nigerians to embrace hope, patience, sacrifice, and resilience.
In a statement released on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC stated that the Easter celebration represents God’s everlasting victory over death and the triumph of light over darkness.
The statement read, “Easter, the joyful end of the Lenten season of fasting and penitence, is core to the Christian faith as it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It symbolises God’s eternal triumph over death and the power of light over darkness.
“As we celebrate, we enjoin Nigerians to embrace hope, patience, sacrifice, and resilience, some of the priceless values and virtues immanent in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
“We join Christians in prayer that the transformative blessings of Easter abide with all Nigerians and strengthen President Bola Tinubu in his determination to tackle and overcome outstanding socio-economic challenges confronting our nation.
“May the worthy example of Christ inspire us to extend love and kindness to the needy and less privileged as we remain steadfast in prayer for peace, security, unity and sustained progress of our beloved nation.”
![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 "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
