Victor EzejaAs Christians all over the world commemorate the suffering, crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary, today being Good Friday, there are distressing resemblances of what Christ encountered in the hands of authorities of his time and what innocent citizens are suffering as a result of bad leadership across Africa, that we can reflect on.
Just as Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God, was unjustly condemned, betrayed, and crucified by corrupt religious and political leaders of His time, Africa today remains a continent where bad leadership continues to “crucify” the innocent through greed, violence, and systemic oppression.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Parallel: Christ’s Crucifixion and Africa’s Suffering
Unjust Trials: Just like Jesus was falsely accused by the Sanhedrin, Africa’s innocent often face sham trials, kangaroo courts, and political imprisonments. We have seen cases of the law being quoted, misquoted and manipulated to support injustice. There are also cases of abuse of state power and cracking down on dissenting voices, while unleashing unpopular and inhumane policies on the people. The poor, the weak, the voiceless and the defenceless reel under the burden of bad leadership, while the powerful at the corridors of power jubilate and swim in affluence.
Betrayal for Silver: Judas Iscariot sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Africa’s leaders sell their people’s future for bribes, embezzlement, and foreign exploitation. From a foreign perspective, it manifests in cases where leaders allow criminal exploitation of their natural resources by foreigners just for peanuts as kickbacks to the detriment of the citizens who should benefit from the appropriate use of the resources for national development and empowerment.
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Internally, elected representatives at legislative assemblies often betray the interest of their constituents, whom they are expected to serve, and pursue personal interests for self-aggrandizement.
The Crowd’s Manipulation: The masses were stirred to demand Barabbas’ freedom over Jesus. African citizens are often manipulated—through tribalism, propaganda, and fear—to endorse their own oppression. During election campaign seasons, many political leaders weaponize ethnicity, religious affiliation and all forms of lies to sway the crowd of voters to their side. Instead of engaging in issue-based campaigns where electoral candidates speak on their policies and plans to take governance to the next level, they resort to primordial sentiments and trivial issues that ordinarily wouldn’t be considered by the electorate in climes that have advanced democracies and good governance.
The sad reality is that some of the oppressed who have been manipulated and compromised, advance the interest of their oppressors by hailing their oppressive acts against fellow citizens for mere peanuts handed out to them.
The Cross of Poverty and War: Just as Jesus bore the weight of the cross, Africa’s poor bear the weight of stolen wealth, forced displacement, and endless conflicts fueled by those in power. Various regions in Africa are afflicted with one form of conflict or another, with the poor often being vulnerable. If it is not ideology-based Jihadists like al-Shabaab in Somalia, Boko Haram/ISWAP in Nigeria and other parts of the Sahel region, then it is farmer-herder conflicts ravaging communities and causing the displacement of peasants. Some are also stemming from political crises. In all, they have support bases often linked to political leaders at various levels.
Who Plays the Roles Today?
Pontius Pilate: Weak leaders who know the truth but wash their hands of justice for political survival.
The Religious Elite: Corrupt clergy and false prophets who bless oppression in exchange for power.
The Roman Soldiers: Security forces who brutalize citizens on behalf of dictators.
Judas Iscariot: Politicians and elites who betray their own people for personal gain.
The Cry of the African Crucified
Here, we juxtapose the words of Jesus Christ on the cross with the cry of the innocent Africans being crucified.
Like Jesus, the innocent in Africa cry out: “My God, why have you forsaken us?” – as children starve while leaders feast.
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” – as killers and looters destroy generations.
“It is finished.” – as hope seems lost under the weight of tyranny.
Just as the cross was not the end for Christ, this suffering must not be the end for Africa.
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Beyond The Crucifixion and Call for Reflection
Good Friday stands as one of the most solemn and sacred days in Christianity—a day of profound sorrow, yet also of immeasurable love. According to the Holy scriptures, Jesus Christ, the innocent Lamb of God, willingly bore the weight of humanity’s sin upon the cross.
Jesus, though blameless, was condemned by the very people He came to save. Betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, and sentenced by Pilate, He endured mockery, torture, and humiliation. Yet, in His darkest hour, He prayed:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” (Luke 23:34).
His sacrifice was a deliberate act of love. He chose the cross to bridge the gap between a broken humanity and a holy God.
Good Friday reminds us that:
Evil may have its day, but justice will rise.
The blood of the innocent cries out to God.
A new Africa is possible—but only if the people confront corruption, demand accountability, and refuse to be silent.
Romans 12:21 says: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
A Call to Response
Good Friday is more than a historical event—it is an invitation to:
Repentance – Recognizing the cost of our sin and turning to God.
Gratitude – Marvelling at the depth of Christ’s love.
Surrender – Taking up our own cross (Matthew 16:24) and following Him.
Will Africa remain on the cross? Or will it rise?
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
