…Says, “They will die like Judas Iscariot.”
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), 19 Northern States and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, has expressed lamentations over the continuous heightened insecurity challenges facing the country, attributing it to betrayers.
Visibly, furiously delivering Easter Sermon at the Amazing Grace Baptist Church, Ungwan Zawu, Gonin-Gora, Kaduna, on Easter Sunday, Rev. Hayab, who rained curses on the traitors, said those betraying the security of Nigeria will die like Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 disciples who betrayed Jesus Christ.
Rev. Hayab, who strongly attributed the elongation of the security challenges in Nigeria to “betrayers,” said “We have betrayed our brothers, sisters, our country.”
He expressed utmost surprise as to why should people betray their country, and of what benefit. “No wonder, people are making money illegally but it’s not showing in their lives,” he said.
He expressed dismay that Nigerian Soldiers, Police and other securities are working very hard and suffering to protect the citizens of the country, but added that their efforts were in vain due to the betrayers.
“If Nigerians stop betraying their country, you will defeat bandits in short time. What do we benefit from betraying our nation?” he emphasized.
He also told the congregation of worshippers and youths that, “If you betray your community (Ungwan Zawu), you will end up like Judas Iscariot in the Bible – Judas, who’s the example of betrayer that ended up in death without even using the money.
“That’s the challenges the Nigerian securities are facing for inability to end insecurity,” he noted.
In an interview at the end of the Service, Rev. Hayab gave reasons for been in Amazing Grace Baptist Church, Zawu, in Gonin Gora, saying, “This is my local assembly. One of the reasons why I love coming here is that when you come to local communities you see genuine commitment and dedication to the things of God.
“So, I find joy when I come around to worship or minster here, because, even in Jesus birth, He was not wearing beautiful cloths. So, life is about humility, and we learn every day. So, I’m here to celebrate Easter and the resurrection of Christ with them,” he explained.
According to him, “The carrying of the cross on the shoulder by Jesus Christ connects to the Gbagyi culture, the people of this area, who carry loads on their shoulders all the time,” he stated.
He also revealed that the most important scripture that really troubled the whole process in the week Jesus was to be crucified was the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, a friend and treasurer of his team and someone that Jesus trusted.
“And we hear all what’s happening around us today. The biggest challenge Nigerians, security, government, communities, families and friends are facing is betraying, and so, this exactly is the attitude of Judas, it’s what you have seen around us today,” he noted.
Rev Hayab opined that, “The inability of our security agencies not to have defeated the bandits and terrorists is because of betrayers among them. And even among us, there are people that are frustrating and betraying them, especially the informants.
“And so, in local community like this, we need to remind them that the man, who chose to betray Jesus, ended up killing himself. So, if you join people to betray the security of this country, you end up betraying yourself, your community, family, friends and the nation.
“If this country trusts you and gives you a responsibility, it’s expected that you find it faithful. Lack of faithfulness in holding offices and in keeping the treasury of Nigeria in trust is betrayal. They are betraying the trust of Nigeria.
“So many things are happening today. So, we see that those, who betrayed Jesus and humanity, ended up destroying themselves. And so, I’m appealing to those who choose the part of betraying others to stop it because their end will be disastrous.
“Let’s work with our government and security agencies to bring the end of this insecurity. Why is it that before a criminal is apprehended, he has disappeared? – Because there is a betrayer. Despite efforts of security in keeping certain things secret, among them some people keep betraying, in community people also keep betraying.
“So, we all know what led to Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. Let’s deal with evil attitude of betraying so as to get out of the circle of crises of attacking communities.”