*Papal Knights say the governor’s statements are disappointing, not reflection of a true Catholic

*As Lalong risks being stripped of his Papal Medal

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has tendered unreserved apology to Catholic faithfuls over a remark he made while defending his appointment as the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council.

Addressing reporters at Aso Rock on Tuesday, Lalong had said as “a born, baptised and confirmed Catholic”, who has the highest award from the papacy, Knight of Saint Gregory the Great, the Pope has not told him there was anything wrong being the lead campaigner of the ruling party, especially over the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“For those who are talking about Muslim-Muslim ticket, I don’t even know where they are. I Hold a Papal Night and as a Catholic, everything we do, we do it and we send the advice to the Pope. The Pope has not told me that what I’m doing is bad as Director-General,” he had said.

The comment sunbequently attracted widespread condemnation, especially from Catholic faithfuls who blamed him for dragging the Holy Father into the murky waters of Nigerian politics.

They had called for his immediate suspension from the Church, with some of his critics claiming it was blasphemy.

But in a letter to the Catholic Church routed through the Catholic Bishops Conference 9f Nigeria, Gov. Lalong accepted that he erroneously linked the Catholic Pontiff with Nigeria’s politics.

While promising to be of good conduct, the governor sought the forgiveness and understanding of everybody and the church.

“I have followed with some shock and deep regret, the reactions that have trailed my appointment as the Director-General of the Campaign Council for the presidential candidate of our party, the APC, Ahmed Tinubu, and his running mate, Ibrahim Shettima.

“The appointment, understandably was received with mixed reactions across the Christian community, who genuinely feel aggrieved by the decision of our party to settle for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“While many people commended me for the appointment and saw it as a way of remaining within the system to fight for our own interests, others cast aspersions on it on the grounds that our faith had been insulted and denigrated.

“In the course of this, many of my opponents turned the issue into a political weapon with some spreading rumours and questioning the integrity of my credentials as a Catholic and a Papal Knight.

“In trying to make my case, I have granted interviews to justify why I believe that the appointment did not in any way undermine my commitment to the Catholic Church.

“During the week, in the course of defending myself, I had cause to make reference to my credentials as a Catholic and a Papal Knight. 

“In the process, I made reference to the Holy Father. I now realise that this was an error on my part and has caused some level of concern and even embarrassment to many, especially the Members of the family of Papal Knights to which I belong.

“I now understand that I may have overreached myself in the course of trying to defend my personal decision in accepting this appointment and thus, the reference to the holy father was not intended as an act of disrespect to his exalted and revered office.

“Your Grace, by this written letter, I wish to tender my unreserved apologies and ask for their understanding and forgiveness from my brothers in the Catholic faith and, through you, the entire members of the Bishops’ Conference, our Fathers and our leaders.

“My commitment to the Catholic faith, to which I belong, remains unreserved and undiluted. I will continue to uphold the banner of my faith in public life as I have done over the years.

“You may recall, Your Grace, that in the last five or thereabout years, I have been at the forefront of facilitating our dialogue as politicians with you our fathers in the faith. I remain committed to this and pray that you will continue to encourage us as we ascend the slippery slope of politics,” the letter read.

However, before the governor tendered the apologies, Hon Dame Dr Esther Uduehi, the National President, Papal Knights and Medalists in Nigeria (APKMN), had expressed the disappointment of Papal Knights on Lalong, saying his statements were “not only disappointing but condemnable and not expected of a  Catholic and more so of a Papal Knight”.

She wrote: “My dear Sir Simon Lalong, Governor of Plateau State, I write to you as the National President of Papal Knights and Medalists in Nigeria, (APKMN), to express the disappointment of all Papal Honorees in Nigeria at a statement credited to you which would tend to bring the revered image and person of the Holy Father, the Pope into your Local Politics. 

“Your action, to say the least, is not only disappointing but condemnable and not expected of a  Catholic and more so of a Papal Knight. 

“The Holy father is a busy man and does not interact with individuals so easily as you will want Nigerians to believe. 

“I have been mandated by all Papal Knights and Medalists in Nigeria who feel betrayed by your Statement to ask you to produce evidence of your claim or refute the statement credited to you. 

“An ardent Catholic and a Papal honoree at that, ought to know where and when to apply the break in discussing issues of the Church. 

“No true Catholic, no matter his/her position in the society will deliberately politicize the revered name of the Pope for the purpose of a position in a localized political matter of any country. 

“The executive of the Association of Papal Knights and Medalists in Nigeria will be meeting to take a decision and make recommendations to CBCN and thereafter to the Papal Nuncio”.