The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most. Pastor Matthew Kukah on Saturday appealed to Nigerians to force politicians to fulfill their election promises.
Kukah offered this advice in his keynote address at the Catholic Herald’s Centennial Public Lecture and Awards Ceremony.
The Catholic Herald is Nigeria’s oldest surviving newspaper and the weekly magazine of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.
The event was held at Mother of Perpetual Help Church, Victoria Island, Lagos State.
The theme of the event was “Nigerian Nation: Beyond Challenges and Reaching True Nationhood.”
The event was to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Herald, Nigeria’s oldest newspaper.
The cleric spoke about nation-building.
Kuka said the quality of civil society largely determines the degree of social change.
The cleric and social activist appealed to the leadership to put people at the center of its policies and operations.
Kukah said the government needs to accompany the people in implementing projects and programs that meet the needs of the masses.
“Nigeria’s journey towards statehood must be one that engages the people and focuses on a desirable destination.
“Pray that God would renew our strength to champion the cause of justice.
“Nation-building is a long-distance race, and maintaining stardom requires patriotic zeal,” he said.
He called on Nigerians to commit to nation building.
The Catholic Herald was one of the platforms used by nationalists to promote Nigeria’s independence.
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Adewale Martins, said at the event that newspapers played a major role in the pre-independence era.
He said that apart from its missionary function, the newspaper would continue to provoke public debate to move society forward.
He called on the paper’s editorial board to make further efforts to expand awareness.
