ASKS HIM TO RESIGN AS TINIBU’S DG
A group in Catholic Church in Nigeria, on Monday, turned down the apology made by Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, concerning dropping the name of the Pope, in his reaction to the controversy that trailed his appointment as Director General, Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s campaign organization.
The group, under the aegis of the Mass Servants Association of Nigeria, MSAN, in its reaction to Lalong’s apology, said it was not enough for the Governor to express remorse.
The group said that Lalong must prove his apology by embarking on 40-day fasting and stepping down from his role as the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential campaign council.
It would be noted that the governor had tendered an apology to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, over alleged ‘blasphemous’ comments about the Holy Father.
Lalong in his apology letter admitted that it was an error for him to have dropped the name of the Catholic Pontiff with Nigeria’s politics, and pleaded for forgiveness and understanding from the Catholic Church through the Bishops’ Conference.
However, MSAN in a statement signed by Moses Idoko, stressed that Lalong must repent and return every penny from the promoters of Muslim-Muslim tickets.
According to Idoko, the governor should go a step further to resign as the DG of the APC’s Presidential campaign council to show true repentance.
Quoting the Canon Law, Idoko said “Lalong must confess to a Priest for reconciliation with God and with the Catholic Church”.
“Even though God is merciful and forgiving, he does not declare the guilty to be guiltless (Ex 34:7).
“Sin carries with it a need for expiation even after it has been forgiven. After David sinned, the prophet Nathan told him: ‘The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die: But since you have utterly spurned the Lord by this deed, the child born to you must surely die (2 Sam 12:13–14).
“The Catholic Church understands Jesus’ death as expiation for the sins ‘of the whole world (1 Jn 2: 2). This, though, does not eliminate the need for the expiation of the effects of sin.
“In the sacrament of confession or reconciliation, the penance helps to remedy the disorders caused by sin (CCC 1459). Because sins often harm others, simple justice also requires doing what is possible ‘to repair the harm
“In the case of Lalong, he has blasphemed. He showed alarming disrespect to God and the Pope. The Governor made sacrilegious remarks about God and our spiritual leader.
“Exodus 22:28 states, ‘You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler (Pope) of your people. Such blasphemy is subject to punishment by death. For, to revile God (or those whom he appointed) was to call into question the integrity and holiness of God himself
“However, Lalong has apologized and claims to have repented. But his supposed show of remorse is not enough. He must prove it with action
“First, the governor must embark on a 40-day fast and prayer to seek forgiveness. He must crave the face of God for turning against His people by supporting a seemingly doomed and demonic alliance
“But most importantly, Lalong must denounce the APC presidential ticket. He must openly condemn this evil that could potentially destroy the nation
“Except, these are done, the governor’s purported apology will still be seen as a charade. God can’t be mocked.” The statement reads.