…Stands with CBCN communique
By Frederick Peters, KADUNA
NEWSDAILYNIGERIA— The Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Kano and Chaplain of the Association of Papal Knights and Medalists in Nigeria (APKMN), Very Rev. Fr. Michael Adefemi Adegbola, has called on Nigerians to elect leaders based on competence and integrity, warning against the hazards of voting along religious or tribal lines ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Fr. Adegbola delivered the charge during his opening address and homily at the 2026 APKMN National Conference held in Owerri, Imo State, on Thursday.
The conference, hosted in the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, centered on the theme: “Papal Knights and Strategic Engagement in Addressing Christian Persecution in Nigeria.”
Addressing delegates, dignitaries, and church leaders, Fr. Adegbola lamented the state of the nation, describing current times as turbulent, chaotic, and depressing. He criticized the history of political exploitation by self-serving leaders who have left citizens feeling vulnerable and voiceless.
“For too long, we have been kicked and tossed around by our selfish political leaders; for too long we have been treated as helpless, defenseless, powerless, and vulnerable citizens who cannot discern their interest and voice their anguish and pains,” the cleric stated. “The time has come when we should squarely take over our destinies in our hands.”
He stressed that tackling the challenges of nation-building requires collective responsibility, urging citizens to unite, reject isolationism, and confront a culture that glorifies corruption.
Looking ahead to the 2027 polls, the APKMN Chaplain outlined a practical civic framework encapsulated in the acronym RSVP—Register, Select, Vote, and Protect—to guide the electorate: He encouraged active voter education, collection of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs), and full participation in the electoral process.
He advocated competence over sentiment in making informed voting decisions driven by candidate capability, integrity, and a commitment to the common good, rather than regional or sectarian biases.- Shun vote buying, political thuggery, ballot box snatching, vote rigging, and figure falsification.- Actively monitor elections while maintaining patriotism and prayer for national peace.
“We must stand united towards ensuring the actualization of the development goals and supporting a government that will listen to the pains and plights of the people,” Adegbola added.
The cleric aligned his message with the recent communique issued by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), which urged all stakeholders to ensure free, fair, and credible elections in 2027.
He also congratulated the newly elected CBCN President, Archbishop Matthew Man’Oso Ndagoso, alongside other recent episcopal appointments within the Nigerian Church.
Furthermore, Fr. Adegbola offered prayers for the speedy recovery of Pope Leo XIV following a successful surgery and paused to pay respects to departed members of the clergy, including the late Bishop Peter Nworie Chukwu of Abakaliki Diocese and Archbishop Emeritus/former leadership transitions in Benin City.
Concluding his address, the Vicar General invoked the powerful words of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
He urged Papal Knights and all citizens not to remain passive or indifferent, declaring that “now is the time for action.”