It was an honour to deliver a lecture at the September Plenary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Our Lady and St. Kizito Pastoral Centre in Ede, Osun State, on the theme, “Faith in Action: Empowering the Catholic Laity for Active Political Participation Ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
”I reflected on the responsibility of the lay faithful to bring their values into the public square and to see political participation as an important expression of responsible citizenship and service to the common good. Our faith should strengthen our commitment to justice, integrity, accountability and the dignity of every person.
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections, citizens must participate with discernment, resist vote buying and electoral malpractice, interrogate the programmes and character of those seeking public office, defend democratic institutions and hold elected leaders accountable. I also stressed the importance of political formation, particularly for young people, so that participation is informed by an understanding of our Constitution, electoral laws, public policy and the responsibilities of citizenship.For me, politics remains a noble vocation of service.
Our democracy will be strengthened when people of conscience and competence are prepared to enter the public square, serve with integrity and place the common good at the heart of political life. Read my full lecture here: https://bitly.cx/iCfS3
