EASTER 2009 MESSAGE FROM THE ARCHBISHOP OF ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCE OF LAGOS AND BISHOP OF LAGOS (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) THE MOST REV. DR. E. ADEBOLA ADEMOWO, OON

Beloved Brethren, we appreciate God for counting us worthy to witness another Easter full of hope and life; for a new day has dawned and the way to life stands open in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Alleluia! At this joyous season of the year, we naturally turn to the Gospel narratives for evidences and expressions of Easter message. And truly one cannot follow Matthew, Mark, Luke and John without realizing how each writer produces positive proof of Christ’s glorious victory over death and the grave. Each Gospel ends with our Lord’s victory over the king of terror. Tearing away the bars of the tomb, He emerged as the Lord of Life. (Matt. 28:2-7).

Immediately after His triumph over sin and death on the cross, the resurrected Christ was with His disciples both physically and spiritually. He walked with the disciples on the way to Emmaus, He prepared breakfast for the disciples by the seashore and appeared to other disciples (Lk. 24:13,36). Jesus’ resurrection is unique and not only witnesses to the final salvation of God’s people, but can be called the main essence of believers’ justification”. (Rom. 4:25). God has given Christians “new birth into a living hope through resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (I Peter 1:3).

The resurrection brings redemption not only to the people of God, but to the entire order of creation. It is the pulse and life-line of the divine economy (Matt. 22:32). What a certainty and wonderful assurance we have! Jesus said “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19). Jesus has given us the power of resurrection to resurrect anything that is dead in our Lives, Homes, Churches, Institutions, Nation and the World in general. Definitely, our values, our attitudes, economic meltdown, perception of ourselves and others can be revived again.

Easter is a season of hope. On the economic meltdown, we can easily see the hands of God in making the Leaders of the Group of Twenty; meet in London on 2 April 2009 to face the greatest challenge to the world economy for Recovery and Reform. They all pledged to do whatever is necessary to:

• Restore confidence, growth and jobs,
• Repair the financial system to restore lending;
• Strengthen financial regulation to rebuild trust;
• Reform our international financial institutions to overcome this crisis and prevent future ones;
• Promote global trade and investment and reject protectionism, to underpin prosperity; and
• Build an inclusive, green and sustainable recovery.

With the spirit of high commitment, dedication and oneness, they have agreed and promised to bring the world economy out of recession and prevent a crisis like this from recurring in the future.

Already they have made provision for significant and comprehensive support to their banking systems to provide liquidity, recapitalize financial institutions and address decisively the problem of impaired assets. This and other moving steps they have taken will certainly yield positive effect.

Our leaders should emulate leaders from Britain, U.S.A and other giant countries who are injecting money into their economies. They should forge ahead to minimize the hardship on people.

This is the time that Nigerians should seek the face of the Lord and drop all the social ills such as the kidnapping in Niger-Delta and other states, robbery in the banking sectors and on our highways, political fraud, injustice, the decadent effect of corruption in our society at all levels and laziness. The list is almost endless.

The Federal Government should try to restore the power sector by totally overhauling the nation’s refineries and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). More companies are trooping out from Nigeria because of the power crisis; many people are complaining on how to reconcile PHCN’s “crazy bills” and “burning billions on generators”. In Sunday Punch March 22, 2009, pages 1, 2, 3, 9 & 19, Sam Awoyinfa said, “In these days of intense heat and epileptic electric power supply, most residents run two generating sets at home”. The terrible situation must be revised sooner than later.

I strongly advise that no effort must be spared by the government and the other stake-holders in teaming up to transform our refineries and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). We must not lose hope or be discouraged. With God on our side, those who have been positioned to work out a realistic and functional restoration method will succeed through the power of Christ’s resurrection.

Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and offer of salvation should morally uplift us and encourage us to eschew the selfishness of carnal nature and imbibe a deep spiritual understanding of the sacrifices. We equally must be charged to move our dear country ahead. Our adrenaline must pump towards progression. We must be spiritual pugilists for Christ.

As we celebrate the Easter, let us for the sake of God Almighty and our fatherland accede to the principles, for which Christ died, rose and ascended. It is imperative for us to be faithful, truthful and rapturable.

May Christ’s Easter Resurrection power be upon you for good this season and always Amen.

Happy and Peaceful Easter Celebration.

The Most Rev. Dr E. Adebola Ademowo, OON
The Archbishop of Lagos and Bishop of Lagos