By Godwin Utuedoye,
WARRI DIOCESE- Arising from her first plenary meeting of the year 2019 held in Lagos State Nigeria, Catholic bishops of Lagos Ecclesiastical Province LEP, have urged Nigerians to carry out their civic responsibility and participate actively in the forthcoming elections with a mindset of peace.
The prelates who undertook a careful appraisal of major issues bedeviling the Catholic church in Nigeria also issued a communique signed by Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos and President, Lagos Ecclesiastical Province Bishops’ Conference and Most Rev. Peter Odetoyinbo, Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese and Secretary, LEP Bishops’ Conference.
They note that though many difficulties is being faced in Nigeria, but all who have registered should pick up their Permanent Voter Card (PVCs) and shun the temptation of selling their voter card for any sum.
“We should all vote and elect only credible, God fearing and qualified candidates with the requisite expertise to turn around, for good, the fortunes of this great nation Nigeria”.
“We call on all eligible voters not to allow themselves to be induced to sell their votes, but to vote according to their conscience and ensure that they defend their votes so that they can truly count, the communique charges”.
The communique called on politicians to say no to electoral rigging, thuggery and intimidation. “Free, fair and credible elections should be the watch word for INEC as the umpire and those playing the game”.
The bishops further appealed to candidates in their communique to allow a level playing ground among themselves to test their popularity so that at the end of the day, the will of the majority of Nigerians would prevail at the polls.
On Insecurity and incessant killings of Nigerians, the bishops note; the year 2018 was largely characterized by insecurity across several parts of the country especially in the North Central and the North East. They affirmed that the Boko Haram sect has continued to terrorize the nation, killing and maiming innocent Nigerians, including soldiers as against the claim by the federal government that the insurgents have been technically defeated.
They lament that kidnapping and ritual killings were at an all-time high in the year 2018 as many Nigerians, including the clergy and religious were randomly abducted by gun men with little help in sight.
“In this election year, we note with dismay the persistent rise in incidents of (fraudsters), Yahoo boys activities and ritual killings, casting fear and apprehension in the minds of law-abiding citizens, we therefore call on Security Agencies saddled with the task of safeguarding the lives and properties of Nigerian citizens to double up their efforts in putting an end to insecurity in the land”.
They added that the strengthening of all security apparatus and the procurement of adequate arms and ammunitions and other equipment needed by the military so that they can successfully exterminate all forms of hostilities in the country before the commencement of the national elections is very paramount.
The clergies also decried the allegations of corruption in the procurement of arms and ammunitions while soldiers fighting the Boko Haram insurgents are exposed to danger due to inadequate or obsolete equipment at their disposal. They call on government to ensure that those allegations are not disregarded, but are properly investigated and whoever indicted be punished according to the laws of the land; “This is the least we can do to encourage the young men and women who put their lives on the line for the security of their fellow Nigerians”.
While, Security Agencies charged with election activities are to ensure that they are not used by any political party to intimidate or short-circuit the electoral process.
The communique called on Catholic lay faithful to get involved and be active participants in the political space beginning at the grassroots, the ward level. We encourage all to deepen their Christian formation by availing themselves of the values inherent in the Social Teaching of the Church so that they can be prepared adequately for good governance and therefore help to effect positive changes in the polity.
We affirm that the numerous challenges facing the nation such as corruption, nepotism, incompetence, injustice and numerous other vices that have since taken the centre stage of our national life, would have been reduced drastically were there more God-fearing people especially Catholics with heightened spirituality at the helm of affairs in the public service. The elections this year 2019 should therefore serve as a wake-up call for more Catholics to come out en-mass and be active in party political activities.
In conclusion, the bishops through the communique stated that this election year, they reinforced the call for all to intensify their prayers for peaceful elections, reiterating their believe in the unity of Nigeria and call on those nursing divisive ideas to have a change of mind and allow the plans of the Almighty for this country to manifest seamlessly.
“We say no to war or blood shedding of the innocent as life is sacred. We also call on the political class and their ardent supporters to embrace peace before, during and after the elections. Politics should never be a do-or-die affair, but a call to serve. At the end of all the electoral activities, may the wishes of the people be allowed to prevail”.