The Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo, has urged Nigerian leaders to match words with action in addressing the country’s challenges.

Badejo made the call on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan. The cleric emphasised that words and promises were no longer enough to address the country’s pressing challenges.

The bishop stressed that leadership came with a higher level of responsibility, representing the hopes and future of millions, and that tangible results were what truly mattered. The bishop highlighted the weight of sufferings by ordinary Nigerians, from economic hardship to insecurity and uncertainty about the future.

“The reality on the ground is heavy; people are hurting deeply on many fronts. “Leadership is not just expected, it is required; leadership loses legitimacy if it fails to ease the people’s suffering.

“Nobody is perfect – not you, not me, not even those in power, but the difference is this: when you choose leadership, you choose responsibility at a higher level.

“You don’t just represent yourself anymore, you represent people, you represent hope and a future that others are counting on,” he said.

Badejo also remarked that leadership loses its meaning and legitimacy if it can not do anything to ease the suffering of the people it claims to serve.

“Words are not enough, promises are not enough and even apologies are not enough. “What truly matters are results. This is a wake-up call, driven by hope and a desire for Nigeria to reach its full potential.

“Nigeria is not lacking in potential, pointing to the energy and creativity of its youth. “What’s needed now is leadership that matches this energy with real, visible im- pact,” Badejo said.

The Catholic Bishop urged leaders at all levels to see this message as a wake-up call out of hope for a better Nigeria.

“This is a wake-up call, not out of anger but out of hope, not out of hate, but out of a deep desire to see this nation become what it truly can be,” Badejo said.