Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins.
Archbishop Martins gave the charge during the ordination of 20 new clerics—six priests and 14 deacons—at the Catholic Church of the Ascension, Ikeja, Lagos.
He said the ordination was taking place at a critical time when the world desperately needed messages of hope and peace, stressing that the new clerics had been called to serve as witnesses to the continuing presence and sovereignty of God amid the challenges confronting humanity.
Highlighting the situation in Nigeria, the Archbishop identified hunger, poverty, insecurity, kidnapping, banditry and homelessness as some of the major challenges diminishing hope among citizens.
He urged the newly ordained priests to embrace lives of prayer, sacrifice and obedience, and to carry their priestly identity with integrity while proclaiming the truth “in season and out of season.”
According to him, their ministry should not be driven by the pursuit of popularity, power, material comfort or public applause, but by fidelity to Christ and a commitment to bringing hope to a troubled society.
Archbishop Urges Nigerians to Vote
Speaking on the political situation in the country, Archbishop Martins urged Nigerians not to allow disappointment with past elections to discourage them from participating in the democratic process.
He warned that refusing to vote would amount to surrendering citizens’ power to determine who governs them.
With political activities gathering momentum ahead of forthcoming elections, the Archbishop called on Nigerians to critically examine the promises of political aspirants and make informed choices based on their consciences rather than material inducements.
He urged citizens to ask politicians questions about their plans for managing the nation’s resources and to resist attempts to buy their votes with food, money and other inducements.
“Even if people choose not to vote, they lose their right to call whoever gets into power to account,” he said.
The Archbishop disclosed that the Church, through its Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), was positioning itself to contribute to efforts aimed at strengthening democracy and promoting free, fair and credible elections.
He encouraged Nigerians to see voting as both a civic responsibility and an opportunity to influence the direction of the country.
The Archbishop’s twin message to the newly ordained clerics and the wider Nigerian society was therefore a call to hope, service, responsibility and active citizenship—with the Church committed to producing ministers who will not only proclaim the Gospel but also contribute to building a more just, peaceful and responsible society.#
