Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, has said Nigerians are not innocent in term of the leaders they elect, and urged them to vote to stay alive.

The clergy who was the guest speaker at the Revd Fr. Dennis Slattery Memorial Lecture, Awards and fund Raising and spoke on the topic, To Conquer or to Serve said values and structure have been subjected to a system not prepared for while concession is made for those prepared for.

“We are more eloquent during campaigns as politicians, to be chairman of clubs but not enthusiastic when it comes to our duty to our environment, helping the young.

“My argument is that some conquered with a sense of power without responsibility. This is a missionary school, and the focus should be on the spirit that brought the missionaries. The least we can do amongst ourselves is to be ready to serve. Service to nation and family is what drives every society.

On what the youths can learn from Fr. Slattery, he said: “The temptation is for young people to cut corners but what we try to do in an environment like the Catholic school is to teach young people that there is no substitute to discipline. It’s legitimate to have achievements in life but we must know that the most fundamental achievement we can make is to live in peace with yourself.”

Speaking on Nigerian politicians and the 2027 elections, he said: “The choice is yours as a Nigerian. We are not innocent as voters. Your duty is to asses anyone canvassing for your vote. We can blame the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the government and the security agencies but at end of the day, nobody is holding a gun to your head asking you to choose him or a particular candidate. Now the social media and the Internet is accessible. Go to the Internet to check me out, what I have achieved and have an idea about my background if I campaign to be your governor so, we are not helpless.”

“I encourage young people, please vote to stay alive; we are largely responsible for the nature of the choices we make because we are not as innocent as we think we are.”

Speaking on the sub-title, the Contribution of the Catholic Church to Human Development and making of a great Nigeria, he said: “Today, the Catholic church has more than 231 schools and 171 universities, educating 72 million across the world.

In Africa alone, there are over 21,000 Catholic nursery schools, 42,206 primary schools and 18,000 secondary schools. According to 2025 catholic statistics, the Catholic church operates 103,951 healthcare centres and hospitals in Africa, it has over 600 medical facilities spread across Nigeria, so, the missionaries came to build a kingdom unlike the colonial, it’s a distinction between those who came to conquer and those who came to serve. People like Fr. Slattery didn’t come as conqueror but as people ready to serve.

Speaking also, Vice-chancellor, Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Lagos State, Anthony Akinwale, said that the incivility witness in every season of electioneering campaign serves as a brutal reminder that Nigeria is in dire need of healing.

A school is founded to heal the human intellect of ignorance. 70 years ago, God in his wise direction of the affairs of the universe used Fr Slattery to establish a school that became a leading light in the education sector of a Nigeria preparing for the departure of British colonialists.

“He added: “The foundation of this school was Fr Slattery’s contribution towards building persons who would build Nigeria. The 70-year-old history of this great school, a history which is still unfolding, is proclamation of the good news that God is healing the world, and Fr Slattery was an instrument of divine providence in bringing about this healing.

On his part, President, St. Finbarr’s College Old Boys Association (SFCOBA), Patrick Doyle, “I got into this premises for the first time in 1973 and from that time, I’ve experienced transformation.

“We have produced champions in engineering as the first technical school in Nigeria; we have produced champions in sports, law, medicine; one of the best brain surgeons in the US attended St. Finbarr. We have a proud legacy.”

On what Nigerian leaders can learn from the school management, he said: “It’s not true that Nigerians don’t know how to manage. The administrator of this school, Fr. Emmanuel Babalola is a 50-year-old Nigerian and he’s been managing the school excellently so, if a Nigerian can provide this kind of leadership, then we should put sentiment aside and do the right thing.”