Governor Simon Lalong du Plateau has again apologized to the Catholic bishops for his recent comment on the Holy Father, Pope Francis.
The governor delivered his apology during the opening mass of the 2022 General Assembly of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos on Tuesday in Jos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Governor had recently said that the Pope had approved his appointment as Chief Executive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign.
The comment was not well received by the majority of Catholics and Christians.
But, Lalong, who was at the event as a special guest of honour, said his comment was misinterpreted as disrespecting the pope.
The governor, who said he was human and could make mistakes, apologized to Catholics around the world for the comment.
“I apologized, I hope my apology is granted and I am forgiven.
“I feel very good now and as we go on I will be more careful.
“Whenever I make mistakes, I’m not ashamed to ask for forgiveness and that’s why in the Catholic Church we go to priests every Saturday for confession.
“I’m not perfect and I’m not going to bWe are afraid of making mistakes,” he said.
Lalong, however, thanked the Catholic Church for playing a key role in bringing about relative peace in the state, urging the Church not to slack off its support for government policies and programs.
He urged politicians to unite and work for the progress and development of the state, stressing that such unity was necessary for the growth of the state.
“May I appeal to my colleagues, my brothers and sisters in politics, to be inspired by the example shown by the Catholic Church by closing ranks and considering us as workers of God.
“In this way, we can see the Plateau and Nigeria as God’s field and building where we can all play our part in accomplishing His purpose.
“For my part, I can say that my roots as a Catholic have shaped my thinking in this regard and allowed me to see governance as a duty to serve people regardless of their differences and affiliations.
“Love, justice, justice and fairness are my main considerations at all times when decisions have to be made, especially difficult ones,” Lalong said.
In response, Bishop Matthew Audu of the Archdiocese, told the governor that his apology had been accepted.
He said the church encourages its members to get involved in politics to make a difference and stand up for truth, justice and fairness at all times.
“Since our president has accepted your apology, so do all of us bishops, but let it be a sincere apology and not a stall for you.
“Yes, we encourage Catholics to get into politics to make a difference, but where you can’t make a difference, learn to say no.
“As a leader, learn to consult widely before making a critical decision,” he said.
Audu advised Nigerians, especially Catholics, to refrain from making distasteful statements against the Governor and urged them to pray for him at all times.
On the Muslim-Muslim APC presidential ticket, the Archbishop advised politicians to refrain from actions that would further tear the country apart. (NOPE)
