The immediate-past General Secretary of the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) at St. Jude's Parish, Mafoluku-Oshodi, Lagos, Barrister (Mrs.) Uzoamaka Onumonu, has charged Nigerians to adopt the "Common Good" as a fundamental pillar for both national advancement and spiritual maturity, reports ITREALMS.
She defined the common good as the collective conditions that allow every member of society to reach their fulfillment more easily.
Drawing from 1 Corinthians 12:7, Onumonu noted that spiritual gifts are given for the "common good" and mutual support. She traced the principle back to creation, noting that human cooperation is a divine mandate.
"The opposite of the common good is selfishness," she stated. "From the beginning, God showed us this principle by creating partners and helpmates, proving that we are created to live in cooperation, not in isolation."
The presentation took a sharp turn toward the current state of politics and governance in Nigeria. Mrs. Onumonu lamented the diversion of public funds meant for critical infrastructure, such as roads, hospitals, and schools, into personal pockets.
She criticized the prevailing culture where contracts are awarded based on political affiliations rather than competence, and where citizens are taxed heavily only for the benefits to be concentrated among a select few.
"Leadership should always aim at the good of all citizens, not just a selected group. When community resources are concentrated in one street or among one clique, the principle of the common good is destroyed," she said.
The charge was not limited to secular politics. Mrs. Onumonu also challenged the Church community to practice what they preach.
She raised concerns about individuals who seek positions in church organizations for power and recognition rather than service.
She further warned against the misuse of group funds and the creation of divisions through negative speech, noting that such actions have no place among the faithful.
In her concluding remarks, Mrs. Onumonu urged every father, mother, and leader to reflect deeply on their roles, insisting that if every citizen lived for the common good of their family, community, and the Church, the nation would undergo a radical transformation.
"From today, I will not live only for myself," she urged the congregation to pledge. "I will live for the common good of my family, my community, and my society."
The presentation has sparked renewed conversations among the Laity on the need for ethical leadership and social responsibility in both the pews and the public square.
Nkem Nweke/Editor
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