Prior to the general election in 2027, Reuben Abati, a former presidential adviser and television host, has encouraged the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) to ask the Pope to come to Nigeria and offer prayers.
Abati made the decision on Thursday during an appearance on Arise Television’s The Morning Show.
He mentioned that the Pope will make his first papal visit to Africa in April, traveling to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.
Abati stressed that Nigeria needs spiritual assistance as it gets closer to the 2019 general elections and asked whether the country may campaign for inclusion in the Pope’s African visit.
He cited recent statements made by Catholic bishops pleading with President Bola Tinubu to confront the country’s persistent bloodshed and growing insecurity.
He suggested that the church should go one step further and ask Pope Leo XIV to visit.
Abati stated: “First, you cited the Nigerian Catholic Bishops telling President Tinubu that you need to take security measures and stop the carnage that is occurring.
As to why it matters, I want to remind the Nigerian Catholic Bishops Conference that Pope Leo XIV would be traveling to four African nations in April. Pope Leo’s initial papal visit.
He’ll be traveling to Algeria, where Saint Augustine of Hippo was born. He will visit Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and Angola.
Nigeria is currently in need of prayers because general elections are scheduled for 2027. We need prayers here, so is there anything we can do to get the Pope to come and offer up prayers for us? It is impossible to pray more than you can.
