The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Callistus Onaga, has raised the alarm over what he described as a growing agenda to establish an Islamic caliphate in Nigeria, warning that Christians are increasingly facing persecution across the country.

Speaking in his Easter message on Friday, Bishop Onaga said recent developments have gone beyond the long-debated farmer-herder clashes, insisting that a more deliberate and coordinated agenda is now evident.

He said: “We are not to talk of the peculiar problem we have in Nigeria, this issue of terrorism, whether people want to call it that or not, but that’s what it is, persecution at all levels of Christians.

“And very clearly now, it’s no longer a question of talking about herdsmen and farmers. It is now very clear that it is an attempt to institute a caliphate in Nigeria, Islamic caliphate. It’s very clear to everybody.”

The bishop, however, urged Christians not to lose hope, stressing that the essence of Easter remains victory over suffering and the promise of renewal despite prevailing hardship.

“We are celebrating hope. Easter is all about hope. The Lord Jesus Christ, having suffered pain, suffering and persecution surmounted these obstacles. After being killed, three days after he rose from the dead.

“That is the joy, that is the hope of all Christians, that in spite of all our difficulties in life, sufferings in life, one day there will be an end to it as we are experiencing life here on earth, we shall experience some healing,” he said.

Onaga noted that this year’s Easter is being observed amid global and local crises, which, he said, should naturally shape the reflections of believers.

“This Easter is infested with a world crisis of a very particular degree. We are not just talking about the war in Ukraine, but recently we are talking of the American invasion of Iran, which is dealing with the world in terms of economic well-being, especially as regards the issue of oil.

“So a Christian who is celebrating the risen Lord under this circumstance will certainly bring in the situation in the place of this celebration,” he said. While acknowledging the weight of these challenges, the cleric called on Nigerians, especially those in leadership, to act decisively to ease the burden on citizens and restore confidence.

“If I’m the president of this country, do my words tally with my actions? How far am I sensitive to the sufferings of the people? We are not trying to say that our president is not doing well, but a lot needs to be done to convince our people in Nigeria that he really cares.

“I plead with His Excellency to really step his feet down and talk to those working with him. As I’m talking to the president, I’m talking to the governors. Let us make life a little bit easy for our people, given the resources within our reach.”

(The Sun, but headline rejigged)