Advertisement

Bishop Prays for Savior to Free Nigeria from "dungeon of slavery" in New Year Message

Bishop Hyacinth Egbebo of Nigeria's Bomadi Diocese. Credit: Nigeria Catholic Network

The Catholic Bishop of Bomadi Diocese in Nigeria has expressed optimism that God will do “beautiful things” for the West African nation, praying that He raises a savior to free the people from the prison of “slavery, underdevelopment, and corruption”. 

In his Christmas/New Year 2023 message that the Nigeria Catholic Network (NCN) published, Bishop Hyacinth Egbebo urges Nigerians to exercise courage amid challenges.

“I urge everyone to have courage because God still loves us and I pray that He will raise a messiah to take the nation out of the dungeon of slavery, underdevelopment, and corruption,” Bishop Egbebo has been quoted as saying in the Tuesday, January 3 NCN report.

He adds, “I ask the people of Niger Delta; I urge the Ijaw people in the Niger Delta region blessed with God-given natural resources to trust God for a messiah to bring the needed development to the area”.

“God will do beautiful things for Nigeria as a nation and the downtrodden as a people,” the Nigerian Catholic Bishop has been quoted as saying in his Christmas/New Year 2023 message that he delivered on January 2 at the administrative headquarters of the Diocese in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.

Advertisement

In his address, the 67-year-old Nigerian Bishop went on to assure the people of God in Africa’s most populous nation of God’s love, adding that He will deliver them from slavery and corruption the way He delivered Israelites.

“When Prophet Isaiah was predicting the coming of the Messiah, Israel was going through many devastating experiences like the surge of bigger powers against the nation. The good news is that the Messiah actually came and delivered, not only Israel as a nation, but the world as a whole,” Bishop Egbebo has been quoted as saying. 

He further spoke about the importance of the Christmas Season, saying, “Christmas is about God taking human flesh coming to be in our midst, Emmanuel. The celebration is about acknowledging God’s undying love for His human creature.”

The Catholic Church leader who started his Episcopal Ministry in February 2008 as Auxiliary Bishop of Nigeria’s Bomadi Diocese also faulted those who attempt to equate Michael to Jesus, saying, “Angel Michael is not Jesus Christ as some Christians believe, no, not at all.”

“The Scriptures says in Hebrews 1:5, that God never called any angel His son. Angel Michael is a messenger that fights against any course that God does not want; very difficult battles God will send him; he is the conquering angel,” Bishop Egbebo has been quoted as saying in the NCN report published January 3.

More in Africa

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.