As Nigerians mark the 62nd Independence Day anniversary, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger state has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu to remain focused and unbiased during and after the 2023 general elections.
In his independence message to mark this year’s interdenominational prayers service at the 1st ECWA church Minna, the Chairman of CAN Niger state, Most Rev Bulus Dauwa Yohanna charged Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVCs) if they must redeem the country.
According to the Chairman who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, said Christians across the nation have gathered today (Saturday) to pray for Nigeria so that it will attain true nationhood and fulfill its destiny according to God’s plan.
He said “I appeal to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu and his team both at National and States levels to be firm, upright and to remain unbiased during and after the 2023 elections”.
He added that, “we celebrate our political independence and rejoice in our freedom, not because everything is as it should be, but because we have hope in God’s power to write the wrong and in ourselves to heed the call of the Gospel to bring about the reign of God which is peace, justice and equity in our land and in the world.
“We remember and celebrate our political independence today to remind ourselves to do all in our power to bring about true independence and freedom of every Nigerian.
“Our celebration today is a challenge to us who aspire for a better nation and a better future for us and for the next generation to work to change the current narrative and status quo in our nation polity”.
Warning that, if Nigerians get it wrong in 2023 will mean doom, he said “as we approach 2023 general election, let us see it as another golden opportunity being afforded us by God and do our due diligence in making sure that we use our God given intelligence to select leaders who have the capacity, credibility, knowledgeable, good character to create an enabling environment for all Nigerians to thrive, live in dignity and in peace and in God given freedom.
“We continue to implore all the leaders of our churches to take our call seriously by encouraging their members to go and collect their PVC and not be discouraged by the wait time that may be required.”
While congratulating Nigerians and indeed the entire Christendom for another independence anniversary of Nigeria, Bishop Yohanna said “God’s deepest desire for us is to be truly free. Whereas our nation is plagued by so many challenges with masses of our people groaning under the weight of economic and political hardships.”
He further disclosed that “despite all the security, economic and social challenges being experienced by the country and Niger state in particular there is so much to appreciate God for especially for the uninterrupted democracy since 1999.”
The CAN Chairman also added that “we must actively promote the Christian duty of active participation in our civic responsibility by going out to cast our vote on Election Day.
“A Christian worthy of that name must see the coming election as a duty to bring Nigeria back from the brink of destruction and as an assertion of faith that God truly desires all that is good for us and we shall cast our votes to bring to fulfillment the good that God desires for us and for our nation”.
