Bishop Peter Chukwu of the Abakaliki Catholic Diocese on Monday prayed for God’s chosen leaders to emerge from the 2023 General Elections.
Chukwu said the prayer during the grand finale of the 2022 Abakaliki Catholic Diocese Communications Week.
He further prayed for peaceful, free and fair elections that would produce genuine leaders that could tackle the nation’s problems.
According to him, rational Nigerians are very uncomfortable with what is going on in the country.
“We have the problem of insecurity and the cost of living has gone so high.
“Many families can no longer afford three square meals.
“What we are praying for is peaceful, free and fair elections that can usher in God’s chosen leaders.
The clergyman said that the country’s continued corporate existence was seriously threatened.
He said: “I am very worried that priests have become targets of kidnappers and killers.
“Sometimes, they kidnap and end up killing our priests.
“We have lost so many priests in different parts of the country and it is very worrisome.
“I am not surprised because priests and prophets have always been victims of persecution in Church history.
“But we are consoled by the statement of Christ in Mathew Chapter 16 that the gate of the underworld shall never prevail against the Church.
“The Church comes out stronger even when you push it to the wall.”
He urged the citizens to hold candidates to task and also demand to have their manifestos ahead of the elections.
In a remark, Mr Emmanuel Nworie, the newly inaugurated President, the Catholic Media Practitioner Association of Nigeria in Ebonyi, commended the diocese for organising the programme.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event also featured an interactive session on the role of the media in the defence of the Church and her faith.
