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By Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh
At the official opening ceremony of the Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) held earlier today, February 22, 2026, Dr. Mike Omeri Agbo-Omeri, OFR, called for a radical shift in the country’s leadership paradigm.
Speaking as the Chairman of the occasion on the theme, “The Power of Leadership and Upscaling of the Common Good in Nigerian Spiritual and Public Spaces,” the former Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) challenged religious and political leaders to move beyond the pursuit of power and embrace the “courage of servant leadership.”
Dr. Omeri began his address by acknowledging the gravity of speaking before the Catholic hierarchy, noting that it took “courage and a whisper of grace” to stand before the Bishops. He defined leadership not as a position of authority, but as a “value of character defined by purpose.”
Drawing from both theological and secular principles, Omeri highlighted 40 proven attributes of character—including love, generosity, and patience—that are universal across Islam, Christianity, and Traditional African Religions. These principles, he argued, are the essential ingredients for achieving the common good.
”Whoever wants to be great among you must first be your servant,” Omeri stated, echoing the biblical mandate. “Leadership of purpose is courageous and does not seek power; rather, it seeks to serve.”
In a philosophical turn, Omeri explored the evolution of human society, noting that while intelligence and speech allowed humans to cooperate and build cultures, those same elements made humans the “most difficult creatures to satisfy and control.”
He argued that leadership emerged as a necessary consequence to prevent chaos and rancor, yet questioned whether Nigeria’s current leaders have lived up to this evolutionary purpose.
The Chisrman of the occasion went further to challenge the assembly with three provocative questions aimed at the heart of Nigeria’s current socio-political crisis:
• Has spiritual leadership truly led to the attainment of the common good?
• Has public service leadership delivered on its promise to the people?
• Who defines what the common good actually is in the Nigerian context?
Despite the “tumult” of the current times, Dr. Omeri expressed a resilient optimism. He emphasised the urgent need for leaders who can bridge the widening gap between the “haves and the have-nots” and champion justice and equity.
”I believe that there is still one Nigerian out there who is capable, equipped, and empowered by faith to serve Nigeria and the citizens for the common good,” Omeri said. “It may still happen in our lifetime.”
Dr. Omeri concluded by calling on all Nigerians to join in the search for leaders who will act as “beacons of hope,” ensuring that the common good becomes a shared pursuit rather than a distant dream.