…says Nigerian Christians not doing enough
By Samson Adeyanju
As Nigeria marked its 65th Independence anniversary, the Catholic Bishop of Bauchi Diocese, Most Rev. Hilary Nanman Dachelem, has called on both leaders and citizens to embrace repentance and genuine change of heart as the foundation for national transformation.
In his homily and a subsequent interview, Bishop Dachelem lamented that while Nigerians pray, many fail to live out the demands of true faith, thereby undermining the nation’s progress.
He stressed that the call to repentance cuts across every level of society from political leaders to ordinary citizens.
“It is not Tinubu only. Tinubu has to change, I too have to change. All of us have to change,” the Bishop declared. “If we want a better country, a greater country, then leaders and citizens alike must repent and reorient their hearts.”
The prelate urged Nigerians to stop shifting blame and instead take responsibility for building a better nation through honesty, sincerity, and consistent prayer.
According to him, independence celebrations must go beyond ceremonies to a sober reflection on the country’s moral and spiritual state.
“All of us need repentance-myself, the President, and every citizen. If we refuse to repent, history will judge us. Some leaders died on the throne without changing. We must be careful and return to God,” he cautioned.
Bishop Dachelem further challenged Christians to live out their faith more authentically, warning that lip service to God without upright action will continue to stall the nation’s growth.
“Many Nigerians pray, but some pray and in the next moment go into acts they are not supposed to. We are not doing enough as Christians,” he said.
He concluded with a charge for Nigerians to use this independence as a turning point to embrace repentance, unity, and sincerity, assuring that with collective change, the dream of a greater Nigeria remains possible.
