Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has appealed to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) to intensify prayers for peaceful, credible and successful conduct of the 2027 general elections.
Adeleke also warned against a repeat of the political tension that preceded the recent Osun State governorship election.
The governor made the appeal yesterday in Osogbo while addressing Catholic bishops attending the second plenary meeting of the CBCN in the state.
He said the experience in Osun during the build-up to the recent election demonstrated the importance of sustained prayers, responsible political leadership and collective efforts to preserve peace ahead of the 2027 polls.
“As you gather for this year’s conference, I urge the church to intensify prayers for the peaceful and successful conduct of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria,” Adeleke said.
He noted that the Catholic Church, because of its role in promoting peace during electoral periods, had an important responsibility to contribute to the protection of the country, political leaders and voters as the next elections approach.
“As much as the Catholic Church is in the frontline of electoral peacebuilding, we need divine intervention to secure the nation, the political class and the citizenry as we head to the elections,” he said.
Adeleke recalled the tension that surrounded the recently concluded Osun election, saying residents of the state understood the potential consequences of a loss of peace during an electoral process.
“All Osun residents know what it means for peace to fail in an electoral process. We pray Nigerians will not witness what we suffered in the pre-election space,” he said.
The governor expressed optimism that Nigeria could achieve a peaceful 2027 election with divine intervention.
“We pray for divine grace to deliver a successful 2027 elections for our great nation,” he said.
Reflecting on his political journey, Adeleke described his administration’s emergence from what he called a “ruthless political war” as a victory made possible through divine intervention.
He said his administration and supporters endured intense political challenges before, according to him, they were eventually delivered from repression.
“We passed through the valley of death but the Holy Spirit piloted and rescued us from the mouth of lions,” he said.
Adeleke said the political situation became so difficult that his camp was “almost swallowed up” and “almost in the belly of the big fish,” comparing the experience to the biblical account of Jonah.
“But as we relied on the name of God instead of horses and chariots, we triumphed and overcame adversities,” he said.
Despite the political difficulties he said his administration experienced, Adeleke stated that he had opted for thanksgiving instead of revenge after his victory.
“As the Lord directed, I seek no revenge; the will of the Lord has prevailed; mine is thanksgiving and continuous service in the line of the Lord and the people,” he declared.
The governor specifically recognised the support and prayers he received from the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, during the difficult period.
Adeleke described Kukah as a “living witness” to the challenges faced by his administration and thanked him for his support and prayers.
He also praised the Catholic Church for its contributions to Nigeria’s development, particularly in education, healthcare, human-capacity development and peacebuilding.
According to Adeleke, the Church has made significant contributions to education and healthcare while positively influencing generations of Nigerians.
“In the history of this federation, the Catholic Church has earned an impressive place as a driver of enlightenment through education and health facilitation, through human capacity development and through peace building across the society,” he said.
Adeleke assured the Catholic Church that his administration would continue to support its activities, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare.
“I assure the Catholic Church of the unwavering support of our government. As the Church shares our aspirations for expanded educational and health access, we remain a committed partner,” he said.
The governor said his administration remained willing to work with the Church and other stakeholders to improve the welfare of residents of Osun State and Nigerians generally.
He welcomed the bishops to Osun and expressed hope that their deliberations would contribute to peace, development and stability across the country.
The second plenary meeting of the CBCN began on September 10 and is scheduled to end on September 18, 2026.
Source: Osun State Government
