Pope’s Election Not Based on ‘Emi Lokan’ Ideology, Says Bishop Kukah in TV Interview
Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto has clarified that the process of electing a pope in the Roman Catholic Church is not influenced by political ideologies like Nigeria’s popular “emi lokan” sentiment.
Kukah made the remark during an interview with Channels Television, which aired on May 21, 2025. The phrase “emi lokan,” meaning “it’s my turn” in Yoruba, gained national traction when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu used it in 2022 to assert his presidential ambition.
Reflecting on recent social media discussions about the possibility of an African pope following the death of Pope Francis, Kukah dismissed the idea that papal selection follows a rotational or entitlement pattern.
“I think we still have a long way to go,” Kukah said. “I wrote an article during the recent speculation, recalling when Pope John Paul II died and many believed Cardinal Arinze was close to becoming pope.”
“But electing a pope is not an ‘emi lokan’ scenario. It’s not about saying, ‘Europe has had its turn, now it’s Africa’s turn.’ That’s not how it works.”
The bishop emphasized that the election of a pope is driven by spiritual discernment rather than political calculations or regional balancing.
“Speculators use human parameters to predict outcomes, but the Catholic Church believes the Holy Spirit guides the choice of the next pope,” he said. “This isn’t a horse race or a political power shift.”
He added that unlike African politics, the pope’s home country does not receive any special benefits or political advantages.
Pope Leo XIV, who was elected on May 18, 2025, succeeds Pope Francis as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church
