From Cyriacus Nnaji, Lagos
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has called on Nigerians to remain active citizens and not surrender their voting power to politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections, even as he ordained 20 new clergy for the Archdiocese.
Speaking during an ordination mass on Thursday, at the Catholic Church of the Ascension, Ikeja, Lagos, Martins ordained six deacons to the priesthood and 14 seminarians to the diaconate. He described the 20 men as “laborers sent into the harvest” at a time when the world and Nigeria are in dire need of hope. “Our local church is located in Lagos State, a state that has a population of over 20 million people, out of which only about 3 million are Catholics. Indeed, dear friends, the harvest is rich, but as rich as the harvest is, the laborers are few,” the Archbishop said.
He further stated, “We give thanks to God, the Lord of the harvest, for answering our prayers and sending 20 more laborers into his harvest.”
Delivering his homily, Martins said the ordination was taking place at a time of global instability. He cited wars in Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, tensions between the US and Iran, and conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “With instabilities in many parts of the world, natural disasters such as unusually heavy rainfalls that bring about floods, mudslides and even refuse dump collapses, the world needs peace and a message of hope,” he stated.
Turning to Nigeria, the Archbishop painted a grim picture of poverty and insecurity. He recounted seeing six people sleeping under a bridge on his way to the cathedral, noting that many were likely victims of eviction and demolition. “We are faced with insecurity of life and poverty in cities and villages. Kidnapping for ransom that has become another criminal enterprise that even governments patronize. And banditry making our roads unsafe and the farms empty of farmers in many parts of the country,” he said.
In spite of this, Martins told the new priests and deacons that their calling was to be “sacraments of hope in a hopeless world.”
“You are sent, not just to preach the word of God, but to embody the truth that God is alive and that he is on the throne in total control of things, even if it does not appear so,” he charged.
He said, “You are called to bear prophetic witnessing, speaking to the conscience of all. Governments and politicians alike.”
With elections approaching, the Archbishop warned against political apathy and vote-buying. He said politicians have started making “ridiculous” promises and that INEC was struggling to convince Nigerians of its impartiality. “We have people saying that they will not waste their time going to vote. Dear friends, in spite of the disappointments of the past, we must not become despondent. We must not become so cynical that, as citizens, we surrender our power and ability to choose the leader that we desire,” Martins urged
Archbishop Martins Ordains 20 Clergy, Urges Civic Duty Ahead of 2027
