The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, has urged religious leaders to promote peace, unity and responsible participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Akume made the call on Wednesday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja during the 12th Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, where he represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement by his spokesman, Yomi Odunuga, the SGF urged the bishops to protect democracy and encourage peaceful and conscientious participation in the electoral process.
“Elections will come and go, but Nigeria must remain. As Charismatic Bishops and fathers of faith, you have a decisive role to play, not in determining the winner, but in helping to ensure that Nigeria does not lose,” he said.
Akume called on the bishops to speak out against anti-democratic practices, including vote-buying, hate speech and the weaponisation of ethnicity or religion.
He also warned against using the pulpit as a platform for incitement.
“I urge you to please refrain from turning the pulpit into an instrument of incitement instead of the sanctuary of conscience. An election is a contest for office; it must never become a war for survival,” he said.
The SGF further urged religious leaders to regard peacebuilding as an important part of national security.
“Religious leaders occupy a very important intersection in the prevention and management of these issues because they are recognised influential social mobilisers and actors in peace building. The Church must therefore see peace building as part of national security,” he said.
Akume also called on the Synod to consider ways of collaborating with government in areas such as youth empowerment, education, peacebuilding, civic responsibility and humanitarian service.
“Government needs the moral reach of the Church, and the Church needs an enabling civic environment to thrive. Above all, Nigeria needs both to work perfectly, for the common good,” he said.
He thereafter declared the 12th Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria open.
Source: Yomi Odunuga, spokesman to the SGF
