The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama, has called on political aspirants to prioritize service and humility as they pursue leadership roles, warning that Nigeria cannot flourish in a climate of hostility and self-interest.
Kaigama made this appeal during his homily at the 25th Sunday Cultural Day of the Holy Cross Parish in Gwarinpa, Abuja, on Sunday.
Drawing from Proverbs 2:12-17, James 3:16-4:3, and Mark 9:30-37, the cleric emphasized that true greatness is measured by one’s attitude towards the underprivileged, not material possessions or titles.
He urged political leaders to seek “wisdom from above,” which he said promotes fairness in economics, decency in politics, societal prosperity, and peace.
“When people vie for leadership positions, they must ask themselves: is their motive to serve or to be served?” Kaigama questioned.
He quoted Jesus’ words, saying, “‘If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.’ Our leaders must adopt this divine wisdom to become humble and serve one another in love. This is how we can build a better Nigeria, and indeed, a better world.”
The Archbishop decried the negative influence of pride, greed, and ambition in the quest for power, noting that these vices are often disguised as human wisdom. According to him, reliance on earthly wisdom leads many into corruption and other destructive behaviors.
He stated, “Instead of looking to earthly wisdom, we must turn to the ‘wisdom that comes from above,’ which alone can lead us to equality, decency, and peace.”
Kaigama also reminded the congregation of Christ’s lesson to His disciples when they argued over who was the greatest.
“Jesus taught them that the path to true greatness is humility, telling them that ‘If anyone wishes to rank first, he must remain the last one of all and the servant of all’ (Mark 9:35),” he said.
He further explained that humility requires recognizing one’s limitations and trusting in divine providence. “A humble person respects and cares for others, seeing each man or woman as a brother or sister,” Kaigama remarked.
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