By Jamila Nasiru , Kaduna

The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and Abuja, Reverend John Joseph Hayab, has lamented that betrayal has long hindered Nigeria’s development.

Speaking after the Sunday service in Kaduna in an Easter message titled “Overcoming Betrayal at Easter”, Hayab said the act of betrayal has become a major obstacle to national growth.

He stated, “Nigerians are betraying the country; people are betraying one another, and all these have contributed to the many challenges the nation is grappling with today.”

“The security agencies can not succeed in their official engagements in trying to curb the activities of bandits that are terrorising different parts of the country because of betrayers that easily link every effort being made by the security personnel to bring an end to the activities of bandits killing, rustling animals and destroying properties in billions of naira.”

The CAN chairman pointed out that “When Judas Iscariot agreed to betray Jesus by collecting money in return, he later hanged himself because he later understood that he betrayed an innocent soul, Jesus Christ.”

He further explained that anybody that betrayed the trust of another person, people, community, state or country does not end well in his or her life, stressing that those who betrayed the trust put in them by giving them any responsibility do not end well because they have betrayed the trust assigned to them.

Reverend Hayab maintained that “Those who betrayed Jesus and humanity ended up destroying themselves.” noted that those who choose the path of destroying others should stop it because their end is always disastrous.

He opines that, “If this country trusts you and gives you a responsibility, it is expected that you will be found faithful. Lack of faithfulness in keeping our responsibilities and keeping the treasury of the country is betraying the trust bestowed on an individual.”

The chairman then appealed to those who chose the path of destroying others to stop it, assuring them that their ends are not good. “We should work together with the security agencies to keep the country safe and united.”