The Archbishop of Methodist Church Abuja, His Grace, Michael Akinwale and some other clerics on Saturday urged Nigerians to pray for free, fair and credible elections in the country.
They spoke as a public commentator, Mr. Jude Nnabuife, called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to insist on the inclusion of state of origin and religion in the 2023 census data as a primary condition for the participation of the Church.
He added that CAN must mobilise and galvanise the whole Body of Christ in Nigeria for this purpose; seek a symbiotic partnership with the various apex socio-cultural bodies in the southern and middle belt regions of the country in a bid to amplify her voice; and
mount a vigorous sensitisation of the Body through a sustained media campaign.
Meanwhile, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the clergymen who called for prayers for the election made the appeal during a prayer meeting organised by the National Hospital Abuja Chapel, in collaboration with Green Flames Film and Television Academy.
Akinwale said the present situation in the country necessitated prayers for the peaceful conduct of the general elections.
The Archbishop who spoke on the topic “The battle Christians face in politics”, believed that only fervent prayers of the righteous would prevent any form of violence or distractions.
He prayed God to give Nigerians peace, guidance and understanding to make informed choices of political leaders during the general elections.
According to him, the only solution to bad governance is the election of righteous leaders.
He said God will not forsake Nigeria, adding that “God is looking for men and women who will stand in the gap, as the scarcity of righteousness makes evil prevail.”
Similarly, the Presiding Bishop of the Dominion Chapel International Church, John-Praise Daniel, advised Nigerians to shun politics of bitterness.
“We need to remember that peace and unity has bonded us together and no politics of bitterness should try to separate us.
“We have to engage in issue based politics; Only God should choose our leaders.
“Let us shun politics of tribe, bitterness and religion, we must vote right to change the narrative, so we can put our nation back on track,” he said.
Also, Pastor Godwin Idowu, Presiding Elder of the National Hospital Chapel, reminded Nigerians that their unity was sacrosanct.
”As we pray and prepare to vote, it is good we note that the nation needs a servant leader, the nation needs people with the heart to sacrifice,” he said.
The Founder and President, Green Flames Film and Television Academy, Appiah Simon, said the event was organised to pray for the nation ahead of the elections.
She added that the event would be used to enlighten the youths on the dangers of electoral violence.
“We have NYSC members and various groups of youth here and they form the majority in the electoral process, so we will use the avenue to talk to them.”
She urged Nigerians to vote competence and integrity, while advising all politicians to avoid politics of rancour.
A film maker, Dimbo Atiya, who spoke on the role of the media in the electoral process, urged journalists to abide by the ethics of the profession, as their reports could make or mar a nation.
NAN reports that prayers were offered for the country and INEC to conduct peaceful and free elections.
In his paper at the occasion, a public commentator, Mr. Jude Nnabuife, noted that though Apadorai in his Substance of Politics (1968) defined politics as ‘’a people organised for law in a polity’’; in Nigeria, as in other parts of Africa, politics has been defined as ‘’banditry and terrorism brazenly accommodated by the state’’.
He added, “The only difference between the Boko Haram style terrorism and that run by the state being that we use our own hands to sign our kidnapping and payment of ransom as reflected in the capture of state treasury by predatory leadership.
“Thus, the Nigerian brand of democracy is monopoly democracy. Governance or democracy is represented in some quarters as the ‘’government of the weak by the wicked and for wicked’’.
According to him, in Nigeria, religion and politics are coterminous adding that the two major arms of commerce in the Nigerian geo-political space are politics and religion.
“Those who understand, control and can manipulate the currents that underpin politics and religion in Nigeria rule the rest. And those who ignore or relegate them to the fringes of national life become the victims. This is because both are routinely deployed in the quest for individual or group contest for state advantages. Basically, both have been so instrumentalised by state and non-state actors as they constantly manoeuvre through the bunkers of national life. Thus, when one loses in a political contest or negotiation, he quickly makes a recourse to his religion. The two contestants in this regard, of course, are Christianity and Islam. In Nigeria an appeal to religious sentiments hardly fails.”
On the upcoming headcount, Mr. Nnabuife wondered why the government is desperate to conduct a national population census in an election year.
“With insecurity almost consuming the country, the economy in tatters and poverty at depressing levels, how come our leaders chose census as a national priority? The answer is clear and unmistakable: Census is in the consolidation plan of the Fulani under (President) Buhari.”
▪︎ Additional reports by NAN.