Governor Lalong Writes To Catholic Bishops, Apologises Over Comment On Pope Francis

Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong has written a letter to the head of the Catholic Church in Nigeria to appologize over the comment he made with the name of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. 

Lalong Appologize To Catholic Over Comment On Pope

KanyiDaily recalls that the governor had recently made reference to the Pope while justifying his appointment as the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council.

Reacting to the backlash trailing his appointment, Lalong said that he remains a staunch Catholic despite his decision to accept to lead the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket campaign.

He said as a born, baptised and confirmed Catholic, who has the highest award from the papacy, Knight of Saint Gregory the Great, the Pope has not told him that it is wrong for him to lead the Muslim-Muslim presidential campaign team.

Lalong’s comment trriggered outrage with some aggrieved members of the Catholic Church, asking the governor to tender an unreserved apology for dragging the Pope into local politics.

President of the Concerned Catholics in Nigeria, Ben Amodu, said the governor caused the head of the Catholic Church global embarrassment with his ‘unguarded’ remarks.

In his appology latter addressed to Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), dated August 12., the governor said he realised that his comment has brought “embarrassment” to the Catholic church, especially to the family of Papal Knights.

He wrote, “I have followed with some shock and deep regret, the reactions that have trailed my appointment as the Director-General of the Campaign Council for the Presidential Candidates of our Party, the All Progressive Congress, APC, Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Ibrahim Shettima.

“The appointment understandably was received with mixed reactions across the Christian community who genuinely feel aggrieved by the decision of our party to settle for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“While many people commended me for the appointment and saw it as a way of remaining within the system to fight for our interests, others cast aspersions on it on the grounds that our faith had been insulted and denigrated.

“In the course of this, many of my opponents turned the issue into a political weapon with some spreading rumours and questioning the integrity of my credentials as a Catholic and a Papal Knight. In trying to make my case, I have granted interviews to justify why I believe that the appointment did not in any way undermine my commitment to the Catholic Church.

“During the week, in the course of defending myself, I had cause to make reference to my credentials as a Catholic and a Papal Knight. In the process, I made reference to the Holy Father.

“I now realise that this was an error on my part and has caused some level of concern and even embarrassment to many especially the Members of the family of Papal Knights to which I belong.

“I now understand that I may have overreached myself in the course of trying to defend my personal decision in accepting this appointment and thus, the reference to the holy father was not intended as an act of disrespect to his exalted and revered office.

“Your Grace, by this written letter, I wish to tender my unreserved apologies and ask for their understanding and forgiveness from my brothers in the Catholic faith and, through you, the entire members of the Bishops’ Conference, our Fathers and our Leaders. My commitment to the Catholic faith to which | belong remains unreserved and undiluted.

“I will continue to uphold the banner of my faith in public life as I have done over the years. You may recall, Your Grace that in the last five or so years, I have been at the forefront of facilitating our dialogue as politicians with you our fathers in the faith.

“I remain committed to this and pray that you will continue to encourage us as we ascend the slippery slope of politics. While soliciting your episcopal blessings.”

KanyiDaily recalls that APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu had picked his fellow Muslim, Kashim Shettima, a former Borno State Governor, as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election.

The development elicited outrage from key stakeholders, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and several Christians within the party.

APC bigwigs like Babachir Lawal and Yakubu Dogara have also kicked against the choice while describing it as a slight on northern Christians.

A former APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole had said that some of those kicking against the Muslim-Muslim ticket are people who are standing trial for corruption.