By Taiye Olayemi
The Global Civic Consciousness Initiative (CCGI), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), on Tuesday advised Nigerians to reject any incentive or coercion that prevents them from voting conscientiously at the polls.
Reverend Solomon Aderibigbe, president of CCGI, made the call during a press conference in Lagos.
The briefing focused on the “State of the Nation: Towards Making the Right Decisions in the 2023 Elections”.
Aderibigbe noted that it has become pertinent to guide and advise Nigerians on the quality of leaders they should vote for during elections.
He said the electorate should carefully consider the candidates’ records, especially how they did on the integrity scale and the fairness ratings.
“Nigerians must be careful not to make election mistakes that will completely destroy their lives, their constitutional rights and their survival as a nation.
“We must also consider freedom of religion, the commitment to the secularism of the state, obedience to court rulings, and the provision of security for everyone in every part of the nation.
“Beware of leaders whose body language suggests the division of the country.
“This particular election is very crucial for all citizens; we must all go out and never allow apathy to deny us the right to choose our leaders in the next dispensation.
“This advice is from us as elders giving our warning and advice. We feel compelled to do it,” she said.
Aderibigbe urged the next government to take the plight of the poor passionately and change the old adage that “the poor get poorer while the rich get richer”.
He also advised young people to focus on repositioning the nation and ignore any temptation to move abroad.
“It is time for us as a Church to speak with one voice and look in the same direction in the search for justice, fairness and fairness,” he said.
Earlier, Bishop Funso Awe, a retired Anglican Communion priest and 2019 gubernatorial candidate for the National Conscience Party (NCP) in Lagos, had said the group was only telling Nigerians what God thought.
According to him, there was a need to sensitize Nigerians to their social and political obligations, as the churches have not been proactive in this regard over the years.
Dr. Sunday Makinde, emeritus prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, also advised the federal government to quickly address the suffering of the masses.
Makinde urged the government to address issues such as rising fuel prices and shortages of the product, limited access to naira notes and other concerns.
He opined that the anomalies were distractions before the February elections.
“We pray that God will subdue all forms of distraction, incentives to vote, and all forms of suffering to which the masses are exposed.
“This election can make or break this nation, so we want Nigerians to be allowed to vote conscientiously,” he said. (NAN) (nannews.ng)
About the Author
