“PARTICIPATE IN politics by going there to sanitise the system. Go with prayers, courage and the fear of God, not with violence and timidity. In our country, corruption is the order of the day, but we can make the desired change into our political system,” says Archbishop Gabriel Abegunrin.

Most Rev. Abegunrin is expressing his desire to see more Catholics in active politics, as another electoral year is creeping on us.

The archbishop was speaking to St Mary, Oke-Padi, Ibadan, parishioners on Easter Sunday 1 April.

Though politics is often refer to as dirty, he said, Catholics should go and sanitise it.

Tracing the beginning of violence to hate speeches, the local ordinary urged us “to give zero tolerance to hate speeches because they are capable of breaking the unity of this country.”

Delivering his Easter homily, Archbishop Abegunrin congratulated those that received sacraments of Baptism and first Holy Communion. He encouraged them “not to remain idle in your faith. Fan into flame the fire of Holy Spirit by joining societies in the Church. Begin to strengthen your spiritual life by praying at all times and attending mass regularly.”

He told the parishioners to be generous and “use this period to know more about your faith. Read your bulletin and enrich your intellect. God is always happy with the generous ones, thus be generous to the poor and the needy around you.”

The Mass was concelebrated by V. Rev. Fr Gregory Oyelami, Vicar-General/Cathedral Administrator, and his assistant, Rev. Fr Anthony Adediran.

-JOHN TAKURO