Victor EzejaThe Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province have called on all Nigerians to get their permanent voter cards and vote for patriotic leaders, who have the capacity to tackle the challenges of insecurity, and the economy and can unite the entire country.
They urged the electorate to vote for leaders who would be true patriots and servants of the people, responsive to the welfare needs of all Nigerians without discrimination.
The advice is contained in a communique issued by the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province made of Ibadan Archdiocese, Ilorin, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo and Osogbo Dioceses.,
The communiqué which was released after their meeting at the Jubilee Conference Centre Oke Ado, Ibadan, was signed by the President, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin and Secretary, Most Rev. John Oyejola Ajakaye.
Part of the communique titled: ‘Nigeria: Now is the time of Grace,’
stated thus: “We Bishops fully identify with the suffering and pains of all Nigerians over these years while enduring numerous threats to security of life and property, crippling economic downturn and bad political leadership.
“We therefore urged all eligible Nigerians to secure their permanent voters cards, (PVC), and vote in the elections according to their conscience, without fear, in order to secure their own future and that of their children.”
Commenting on insecurity in the country, the Bishops commended governors of the South-west for setting up and sustaining the Amotekun Corps and others for the relatively improved security situation in the Southwest.
They equally stated that it was with deep sorrow that they learnt of the gruesome murder of the Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Isaac Achi, of the Diocese of Minna in Nigeria State which occurred on Sunday morning.
The Bishop further stated that more needs to be done by the government at all levels to tackle the raging insecurity in parts of the country.
They advised that authorities should develop more viable strategies to bolster the existing Security arrangements such as deploying modern technology secure life and property, and equally apprehend and decimate members of criminal gangs who engage in such reprehensible activity in the region and all over the country.
“Nigerians have a right to enjoy free and safe movement wherever they live and go and it is the sacred duty of government to make this possible.
“It is never too late to do the right thing because adequate security of life will have an impact on the integrity of the forthcoming general elections.”
The clerics urged the electoral body to ensure the conduct of a free and fair election.
They also appealed to all politicians to eschew all forms of hate speech and actions capable of heating up the polity and causing chaos as the elections draw closer.
The clergymen concluded by calling on Nigerian to be hopeful of better days, which according to them, do not fail.
“We call on all Nigerians to sustain hope by relying on the unchanging promise of God, which says ‘Do not be afraid’ for I am with you,” the Bishops added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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