The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has admonished all Nigerians to get their permanent voter’s card and vote according to their conviction.
The clerics urged citizens to vote those who could ensure security and who have shown the capacity to unite the nation.
CBCN President, Archbishop Augustine Akubeze, made the call in Abuja Sunday at the opening of the first plenary of the 2022 Conference.
He said competence should be the priority in electing leaders 2023.
He asked Nigerians to “vote for people who possess the capacity to make Nigeria into industrial hub for Africa. Vote for people who can make Nigeria a land of opportunity for all. Vote for people who can make our dreams come to life. Nigerians must resist the temptation of falling into a divisive political campaign.”
He urged Nigerians to resist the temptation of falling into a divisive political campaign ahead of next year’s general elections in the interest of peace and national development.
“We cannot run away from the fact that very often a people get the kind of government they deserve.”
In his homily, the Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, said “Nigeria needs leaders like the late president of Chad, Idriss Deby, who died leading his people in battle, or recently, like the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is courageously leading his people and stoutly defending the territorial integrity of his nation by an invading hostile power.
“It should worry us that our young people have learnt the bad ways of corruption from the elders. When some of them tell you stories of what they have to do to graduate, or to get a good NYSC posting, or to be recruited into security bodies, it’s indeed very sad.
“The declining sense of sin and guilt has elevated corruption almost to a cultural status so that even when our leaders are asked to respond to the threats of terrorism, combat a pandemic, build roads, houses, bridges, corruption is the arithmetical determinant.
“Our politics is mainly determined by the two factors of religion and tribe and governance is also tainted with dishonest practices. The #EndSARS protests were honest demands of the youths for a better Nigeria. I hope we can transcend selfish parochial interests.” Kaigama said.
President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Women Affairs Minister, Dame Pauline Tallen, asked the Catholic Bishops for more prayers against challenges confronting the country.
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