According to Channels TV from 0:39, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Most Reverend Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has urged Nigerians to take greater responsibility for the political leaders they elect by thoroughly examining candidates before voting.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the 70th anniversary celebration of St. Finbarr’s College on Friday, September 25, 2026, Kukah said citizens often blame the government and security agencies for the country’s challenges but ultimately have the power to influence who occupies political offices through their votes.
“The choice is yours. Look, we are not we are not innocent. Anybody who seeks your vote, your duty and your responsibility is to assess the person. And many of us, it is okay we can blame, we can blame government, we can blame security agencies. But in the final analysis, nobody is holding a gun to your head asking you to choose this, that, or the other person.”
The cleric particularly encouraged young Nigerians to make use of social media and other online resources to investigate the backgrounds, records and achievements of politicians seeking elective positions.
“The challenge for us is to try. Now the social media is there. If I say I want to be your governor, I say I want to be your senator, please go to the internet, check me out, check what I’ve achieved, have an idea about my background. So we are not helpless.”
Kukah stressed that access to information gives voters an opportunity to make informed decisions rather than seeing themselves as powerless in the political process.
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