Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, the Archbishop, Province of Enugu and Bishop Enugu Diocese Anglican Communion has advised the electorate to vote for credible candidates and shun moment politics in the forthcoming general elections.
He expressed optimism that the 2023 general elections have the capacity to restore Nigeria to greatness, if her people would shun money politics and vote with sincere heart.
Chukwuma stated this while speaking to newsmen shortly after his Lenten Service at the Cathedral Church of the Good Shepherd, Enugu.
The Bishop noted that Nigerians have so far shown great enthusiasm in using the ballot box to change the cause of things in the country and asked that the people should be allowed to freely make their choice and their choice be allowed to count in the election.
He warned that any attempt to tamper with the will of the masses of Nigeria in the 2023 general elections would meet a brick wall as the consequences would be more than that of the EndSARS.
He said, “Nigerians have endured this democracy for the past 27 years. It has come to the point that Nigerians have been disappointed by the outgoing administration which promised a change and now we are about to have election for a new government. We are saying enough is enough. There is need for a new Nigeria and a new spirit.
“We want to say that Nigerians are out to participate in the forthcoming elections and we want to say that the mandate of the people must be respected. It will not be palatable if the will of the people in this election is truncated. It will be worse than the EndSARS if we don’t respect the will of the people.
He added, “Many Nigerians are suffering today because of bad governance and it is unfortunate that these leaders are not sensitive to the sufferings of the people. There is galloping inflation, unemployment, no food, no money and what have you,” he said
He thereby charged Christians to use the Lenten period to pray for God’s intervention in the situation of the country, and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to guard against anything that could create confusion in the current naira redesign policy and in the long run lead to a state of emergency and return of military in the politics of the country.
He said, “We are disappointed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has not lived to expectation in the new naira design. I have seen a video where money is being shared to villagers in the north but nobody is talking about how to cushion the suffering of the people of the South East. People are in the banks angry because they could not have access to their money. As much as the policy is good, the innocent Nigerians are the ones suffering. Politicians are going from behind to collect the new naira and we are watching to see what will happen.
“So we are calling on Buhari to insist that the policy is not targeted to create confusion whereby this election will be derailed and there will be state of emergency in which the army will take over. The people will be so angry if the election does not go well.”
The Archbishop called on the people of the South East to reject the call for an election boycott, as that would also liberate them from Monday sit-at-home,” he said.
He said, “All South Easterners should come out and vote on Saturday and sit-at-home should be cancelled on Monday. We are part of Nigerians and we should play our part as Nigerians. Let justice, equity prevail in this coming election.
“We also want to pray that the economic crunch will improve and severe hardship should cease. Nigeria will be better if we vote with a sincere heart and not vote because of money. Shun vote buying; discredit it to disallow wrong people from occupying offices.” Chukwuma added.
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