A stalwart of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Valentine Ozigbo has called on the people of Anambra, and all Nigerians to remain steadfast, and to use this Easter season to reflect on how best to discharge our primary responsibilities as citizens, which is to effectively hold our government and leaders accountable.
Ozigbo, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP during the 2021 Governorship Election in Anambra State, made the call in an Easter Message he signed on Sunday.
According to him, this citizen’s task entails demanding qualitative good governance from the nation’s leaders, in fulfilment of Section 24 of the 1999 Constitution, which requires that citizens insist that leaders abide by the dictates of the constitution and be accountable.
“For us Ndi Anambra across Nigeria and other nations of the world, I congratulate you on this year’s Easter.
“I also enjoin you to imbibe the teachings of Jesus Christ and learn the lessons that Easter embodies – love and selfless sacrifice for one another. After all, this is a glorious season that reminds us of Christ’s love for us all.
“We should also remember that this is a season that demands men and women of goodwill, people with integrity in their words and actions, people that would exhibit their humane and sacrificial behaviour in all they do, especially those holding positions of trust on behalf of all of us.
“Therefore, our leaders must realize that leadership demands sacrifices as epitomized in the life of Jesus Christ who said in Mark 10:45: ‘For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as ransom for many.’
“Being bestowed with leadership is a sacred responsibility that must show humility as exemplified by Jesus Christ Himself who made sacrifices by laying down His life for us all.
“As this Easter came in this gloomy economic environment, it is part of our duties as citizens to ensure that our leaders’ delivery must match their rhetoric,” he said.
Ozigbo, who is a frontline Governorship hopeful in the 2025 Anambra Governorship election, described Easter as the most important gift of God, bestowed on humanity through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.
This he said, symbolizes God’s ultimate sacrifice for mankind by sending his only begotten son, to die for the atonement of the sins of the world.
He said; “This day marks our Saviour Jesus Christ’s triumph over death, redeeming us back to God, thus mending the broken relationship between mankind and God following the great fall of man in the Garden of Eden.
“Now, we are restored to God with the free gift of salvation, bringing us this season of renewing our hope in the resurrected Christ.
“Indeed, Apostle John captures the essence of this day in God’s plan of redemption for mankind in John 3:16 which states: ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
“John 15 verse 13 says: ‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’
“This indeed is another opportunity for us to look up to God more than ever, embracing Him through prayer, honouring Him by living in love, mercy and faithfulness, and resolving to rejoice in Him while rekindling our courage to live and contribute to the growth of our families and communities with faith.”
