Hyacinth Eku
Abuja
A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Ifeanyi Elvis Ogbonna, popularly known as Ignes, has called on Christians and Nigerians at large to embrace the true essence of Easter by promoting love, sacrifice, and goodwill towards one another.
In an Easter message personally signed and issued from his Arochukwu country home on Good Friday, and made available to journalists, the frontline aspirant for the 2027 Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency seat urged citizens to use the season as a time for reflection, renewal of hope, and acts of kindness.
Ogbonna noted that Easter should inspire stronger relationships and deepen faith in divine intervention, while also serving as a reminder of the need for compassion and selflessness in daily living.
The House of Representatives hopeful also challenged elected leaders across the country to reflect on their performance and recommit themselves to fulfilling campaign promises, particularly in the areas of security, education, and infrastructure.
He stressed that adherence to the core values of Easter has the capacity to transform Nigeria by fostering unity, improving governance, and encouraging the responsible management of public resources.
According to him, “If we live with the spirit of Easter in our hearts, governance would work, electoral reforms would be easier to accomplish, funds would be judiciously utilised for the good of the larger number, and leadership would love and cherish the lead. That is the essence of Easter, which we commend to all Nigerians and indeed to all humanity at this time.”
Ogbonna described love as the central message of Easter, noting that it was the driving force behind the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which he said exemplifies compassion and selflessness.
He urged Nigerians to imbibe these virtues, emphasizing that doing so would not only strengthen spiritual consciousness but also contribute to national development and social cohesion.
While commending the resilience of his constituents in Arochukwu and Ohafia, he acknowledged their concerns over the lack of impactful representation at the Green Chambers, but encouraged them not to lose hope.
“At this time in our country, I commend the resilience of my dear constituents, especially with their expectations of the dividends of democracy at the Green Chambers which has been nothing to write home about. I urge them not to give up as the change we all seek is almost here,” he said.
The APC chieftain further highlighted the importance of patriotism, sincerity of purpose, and commitment to national unity, noting that these values are essential to overcoming insecurity and other divisive challenges facing the country.
Addressing the issue of insecurity, Ogbonna called for decisive action against banditry, describing it as a major threat to Nigeria’s development.
“As a nation we must collectively put a permanent end to insecurity and leaders must quit playing politics with insecurity for the development of our country because it fundamentally disrupts the social, economic, and political structures necessary for progress.
“It creates pervasive insecurity, destroys livelihoods, particularly in agriculture, and leads to food insecurity and deepens poverty,” he stated.
He added that insecurity discourages investment, undermines state authority, and diverts critical public resources from development to security spending.
Ogbonna, however, warned of the urgent need for collective action against violent elements, stressing that peace requires sacrifice from all citizens.
He said, “We must collectively rise against the terror inflicted by those who have no regard for the sanctity of human lives. As citizens, we must accept that collective sacrifice is inevitable, as peace has a price, and that price must be paid by all of us.”
