The same-faith presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been characterised as a calculation by the party to win the election next year by His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja. However, he stressed that Nigerians will determine the voting pattern.
The clergy made this statement at the St. Kizito Pastoral Centre in Ede, Osun State, during the First Synod of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo.
In his speech, "The Church as an Agent of Dialogue and Reconciliation In Our Community In Quest For a Just and Peaceful Social Order," he emphasised that every Nigerian, including Christians, would have to make their own choice on which political party to support.
According to him, the Catholic Church wouldn’t direct people on who to support during the electioneering period.
He explained that there’s a reason for the plurality of faith and beliefs as ordained by God and stressed that Nigeria should use such diversity to promote unity through an open channel of dialogue.
The cleric also urged religious leaders to encourage interfaith collaboration.
The 1st Synod of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo has the theme, “You’ll be my Witnesses: Faithful to Christ and Apostolic Tradition (Acts 1:8).