The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace Most Rev. Dr Alfred Adewale Martins and Bishop- of Diocese of Sokoto, His Lordship Most Rev Dr Matthew Hassan Kukah, have called on Nigerians to take the 2023 general election very seriously.

They also tasked them to jettison sentiments and tribalism, and vote for credible leaders that would take the country out of woods.

The clerics made the call on Saturday, at the commencement of the 70th Anniversary, Lecture/Logo/Mascot Launch of The Order of the Knights of Saint Mulumba Nigeria, which took place at St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja, Lagos.

Bishop Kukah lamented the persecution of Christians in the country, with lives being taken without the fear of God.

The cleric, who said that Nigeria is rated the ninth worst country for Christians to live in the world, next to Iran, called on Nigerians to know exactly what they want, refuse to sit on the fence, and vote massively next year.

The Vicar General, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos and Episcopal Vicar of Ikeja Region, Monsignor John Aniagwu, who represented Martins, lamented the sufferings that Nigerians are passing through in the hands of politicians, who do not have the interest of the nation at heart and do not care about Nigerians, but themselves.

Rev. Martins called on the government to allow democracy to prevail, adding that Nigeria is blessed with a lot of talented and capable people who can lead the citizens in the right direction and that Nigerians are tired of politicians making promises that they would not fulfill.

Chief Host, Worthy Supreme Knight, Sir Charles Mbelede thanked God for the Order’s activities in the country.

Bishop Kukah was born on efdom in Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State.

He received his primary education at St. Fidelis Primary School, Zagom, then St. Joseph Minor Seminary, Zaria, before proceeding to St. Augustine Major Seminary Jos, Plateau State, where he studied Philosophy and Theology.

Bishop Kukah was ordained a Catholic Priest on December 19, 1976. Kukah also attended the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a diploma in Religious Studies.

The Bishop also received the Bachelor of Divinity at the Pontifical Urban University, Rome in 1976, followed by a master’s degree in Peace Studies, at the University of Bradford, United Kingdom in 1980.