ABUJA — The Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has appealed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, to intervene with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The bishops made the appeal on Wednesday during the 2026 Synod of the CBCN in Abuja, which was attended by Akume as a special guest.
The gathering also provided an opportunity for bishops from across the country to express their views on Nigeria’s political and socio-economic challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections, while rallying behind the conference’s President-General, Archbishop Leonard Bature Kawas.
South-East bishops appeal for Kanu’s release
Speaking on behalf of the South-East, Archbishop Robert Imoh initially expressed support for the Tinubu administration before making an emotional appeal to Akume over Kanu’s continued detention.
“With all my heart, I want to say that this great government of Nigeria, under President Tinubu, is doing marvellously well. And I want to humbly request, sir, this is from the South-East, with my knees on the ground, that you beg our dear President that Nnamdi Kanu be released,” Imoh said.
Bishops back Kawas
The appeal came shortly after representatives of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones took turns to endorse Archbishop Kawas and mandate him to speak on their behalf.
Representatives from the South-East, South-South, South-West, North-East, North-West and North-Central, alongside the National Women Overseer, expressed confidence in Kawas and urged him to articulate their concerns over the challenges facing the country.
Taking the floor, Kawas said, “Now that the House has mandated me to speak, I will now speak.”
The President-General disclosed that the CBCN has more than 950 consecrated and installed canonical bishops across Nigeria, with the organisation also maintaining a presence in 51 countries.
He subsequently expressed support for the Tinubu administration.
Don’t turn insecurity into religious conflict — Idris
Earlier, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, called on religious leaders to use their platforms to promote peace, responsible citizenship and national unity, particularly as Nigeria moves towards the 2027 elections.
Idris said Nigerians have a constitutional right to support any political party or candidate of their choice, irrespective of religious affiliation, while religious leaders also have the right to hold political opinions as citizens.
“Political competition is part of democracy. Nigerians have the right to support the political party or candidate of their choice, regardless of their religious affiliation. Religious leaders also have the right, as citizens, to hold political opinions,” he said.
However, the minister warned against allowing political competition to take on religious or ethnic dimensions. He maintained that Nigeria’s security challenges should not be portrayed as a religious war.
According to Idris, terrorists and criminal groups have attacked Nigerians from different religious and ethnic backgrounds, with their wider objective being to spread fear and weaken national unity.
He said the Tinubu administration had strengthened intelligence gathering, cooperation among security agencies, military operations, logistics and international security partnerships.
Idris disclosed that about 1,000 terrorists, including several of their commanders, were eliminated in the North-East during the first quarter of 2026.
He also said 308 abducted Nigerians were rescued in Niger and Kwara states in August through a coordinated operation involving the Armed Forces, Department of State Services and Nigeria Police Force.
The minister urged religious leaders to support security agencies by promoting social cohesion and discouraging young people from embracing radicalisation and criminal activities.
Economy: ‘Journey to prosperity has begun’
Speaking on the economy, Idris recalled that 27 of Nigeria’s 36 states were unable to pay workers’ salaries as of May 2023, but argued that the situation had improved considerably under the current administration.
He said the country’s foreign reserves had risen above $54 billion, while GDP had expanded and both headline and food inflation were showing signs of decline.
Idris further disclosed that Nigeria had been cleared by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of concerns relating to money laundering and other illicit financial activities, describing the development as a positive signal for international confidence and investment.
However, he acknowledged that the government’s economic reforms had not completely removed the difficulties being experienced by households.
“This does not in any way mean that everything is now perfect. This does not mean that we have reached the destination we want to reach,” he said.
“But the journey to our economic prosperity has begun.”
The minister defended the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that it had created additional fiscal space for increased investment in infrastructure.
He added that the government was also investing in human capital through initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, 3 Million Technical Talent Programme, Youth Investment Fund, National Youth Talent Export Programme and Student Venture Capital Grant.
Idris encouraged churches to expand their contributions to education, healthcare, humanitarian services, vocational training and youth development.
He also urged young Nigerians to embrace entrepreneurship, discipline and the dignity of hard work.
Idris warns against social media misinformation
The minister also cautioned Nigerians against using social media platforms to spread misinformation, urging people to verify information before sharing it.
“The laptop, the smartphone and, indeed, every other device that you hold in your hands should aid you to grow and prosper. We should not use these devices to spread misinformation,” Idris said.
He called on religious leaders to use their influence to promote truth, tolerance and responsible citizenship, noting that millions of Nigerians rely on pastors, bishops and other religious leaders for guidance on matters beyond religion.
2027: ‘No election should divide Nigerians’
On the 2027 elections, Idris urged religious leaders to encourage citizens to assess candidates based on their records and programmes, vote according to their conscience and accept legitimate electoral outcomes.
“No election should be allowed to turn Christian against Muslim or Muslim against Christian, North against South or one ethnic group against another,” he said.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, stressing that Christians, Muslims and adherents of other faiths should be allowed to practise their religions freely.
Idris commended the CBCN for fostering unity among Christians and maintaining relationships with Muslims and followers of other faiths.
He urged the organisation to deepen its role in promoting national development.
According to him, Nigerians are not required to support or like the government or its leaders, but they have a responsibility to protect the unity of the country.
“You do not necessarily have to like the government. You do not even have to necessarily like those who are leading this country at this point,” Idris said.
“But it is pertinent that, even as you do that, you have a responsibility to preserve and promote the unity of this country.”
The minister said elections represented only brief moments in the life of a nation and should not be allowed to undermine the broader Nigerian project.
He called for stronger collaboration among government officials, religious and traditional leaders, the private sector, professionals, young people and local communities to build a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
