Nigeria’s political and religious leaders have appealed to the citizens to have faith in the country and the possibility of its coming out of the present challenges as a great country.
They made the appeal yesterday in their New Year messages where they asserted that though the challenges may be daunting, they were surmountable.
The political leaders who spoke on an emerging national rebirth yesterday were Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, his Delta State counterpart and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa and Southern Senators’ Forum.
The religious leaders, who urged Nigerians to pray for national unity, peaceful polls in 2023 and to vote the right candidates were the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba and the president of the Laity Council of St Christopher’s Catholic Church, Games Village, Abuja, Dr Ralph Igweh,
Akeredolu congratulated the people of Ondo State on witnessing the new year 2023, emphasizing the need to imbibe the spirit of gratitude to God Almighty.
According to him, despite the numerous challenges of the past year, the state has reasons to appreciate the abiding grace and mercy of God which sustained it and the people therein.
Akeredolu, in a new year statement made available to LEADERSHIP by his chief press secretary, Richard Olatunde, called on the people to intensify prayers for the peace and prosperity of the country, especially as the 2023 general elections draw nearer.
The governor, who expressed optimism that the country will emerge stronger and better from its challenges, urged compatriots to rededicate themselves to the unity and progress of the nation.
“2023 is a very crucial year, especially in the life of our country. We must be deliberate in making the right choices. Our collective targets must showcase our respect for our diverse interests.
“We must reflect on the yearnings of our people and protect the interests and sentiments that have kept us as one indivisible county.
“Let us embrace reason and truth. We must be unanimous in shunning cynicism and mistrust. Our chief objective must be competence in the choice of leadership.
“As the 2023 general elections approach, let us make a conscious effort to deepen our democratic gains by electing a competent candidate as the next president.”
According to him, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is capable of improving the country’s democracy tremendously.
“He will provide opportunities to the great people of this nation and make the country a shining beacon of hope and stability,” the governor said.
On his part, Governor Okowa asserted that hope, dream and aspiration as individuals, families and Nigerians will come to fruition in the 2023 pivotal year.
He said in a New Year message broadcast on national radio and television yesterday that with the general elections a few weeks away, 2023 promises to be a great year for Nigerians as they prepare to elect new leaders for the country.
As he congratulated Nigerians for entering the new year, he lamented that Nigerians had a turbulent 2022, grappling with unabating insecurity, rising hunger and poverty and an economy plagued with huge debts.
“First, let me say Happy New Year to all of us. Those of us that are alive to witness the birth of 2023 have every reason to thank God for His manifold mercies and sustaining grace. Nigeria needs to be rescued and rebuilt from the misrule of the APC-led administration.
“For that to happen, I urge all Nigerians to think rationally, objectively and dispassionately in our choice of candidate. I appeal to us to vote wisely and let us get Nigeria back on track urgently.”
The governor said that the APC-led federal government had plunged Nigeria and its citizens into untold hardship.
“In all the indices of development, Nigeria has never had it so bad; insecurity is pervasive, inflation is skyrocketing daily, public infrastructure is in a shambles, and over 133 million Nigerians are poverty-stricken, according to the latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics,” he said.
On its part, the Southern Senators’ Forum stressed the need to forge a united nation to fortify the country’s bonds and make it strong to overcome the cankerworms of corruption, insecurity and economic deprivation.
The forum, comprising members of the Senate of Southern extraction, insisted that Nigeria can only witness progress and prosperity if all citizens value unity and patriotism.
This was contained in a statement to mark the new year celebration by the forum’s chairman and senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.
Bamidele appealed to religious and political leaders not to make inflammatory comments that can further widen the existing cleavages and stoke the fire of disunity that has been the main challenge ripping the country apart.
He stated that the country was brought together through God’s design, and not by the knowledge of any mortal, urging Nigerians to be circumspect of this fact and guard the country’s unity.
He said, “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to our community and religious leaders to continue to preach the message of peace among all Nigerians, because a nation can’t progress or prosper unless there is unity among tribes and religious organizations.
“We must know that a peaceful and united nation is a bedrock and fertile ground for progress and prosperity to be attained and sustained.”
“With that spirit of unity and patriotism, we believe citizens can get it right by voting their conscience in any election without external influences and inducements.
Similarly, CAN said that 2023 will be a year of turnaround for the fortune of Nigeria,
The president of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, who made this known in his New Year message yesterday, said that amid challenges, 2023 is a year of golden opportunities for Nigerians, praying that Nigerians will not miss or misuse the opportunity to choose leaders with focus and compassion who will lead the country to greatness.
Okoh also appealed to security agencies not to relent in their efforts to ensure safety and security in the land; and also support the conduct of peaceful general elections in 2023.
“Our politicians should realise that we do not have any other country, but Nigeria. Consequently, this reality should inspire them to be more responsible in playing politics with the best interest of the masses at heart.
“In the same vein, religious leaders should know that there is life after the general elections of 2023. Therefore, our speeches and conduct should focus on encouraging our people to build a Nigeria where equity, justice, and fairness will reign supreme.”
The CAN president further assured of CAN’s commitment to continue to partner with government, civil societies, and development partners to build a peaceful and prosperous country.
“We remain non-partisan and will not interfere in the duties of government agencies, but will always promote and support good governance at all levels. However, CAN will continue to raise prophetic voices when and where necessary,” he said.
The primate of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba has called on Nigerians to turn to righteousness for God to turn around the fortunes of Nigeria as the country goes into an election.
The primate, who made this call yesterday at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Abuja, said the year 2023 shall be to Nigerians the year of divine exaltation, but that God’s standards for individuals, families, and the nation had not changed.
“Proverbs 14:34 says, ‘Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people, and God’s standards will not change even for Nigeria. Therefore, for us to see promotion, increase growth, prosperity, and in fact, many good things that God intends to do for humanity this year, we need to walk in obedience, in diligence in faith with God, because if we refuse to honour God, God will not be forced to do what he wants to do, but he can still have a rule. God is asking us to return to the path of righteousness, that is the purpose of God for us,” he said.
According to Ndukuba, righteousness is the panacea to wickedness, it is the panacea to corruption and it is the panacea to every evil that has been.
“We are under siege of evil. A situation in which evil is covered and wickedness is encouraged and those who are in the corridors of power to do what they should do, are not doing the right things.”
Vote Leaders That Can Tackle Security Challenges, Igweh Tells Christians
The president of the Laity Council of St Christopher’s Catholic Church, Games Village, Abuja, Dr Ralph Igweh, has urged Christians to vote for the right leaders that are capable of addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
In his new year message, Igweh said their choices should be devoid of political sentiments.
According to him “in the true demonstration of Christian values, may we all be guided by the Holy Spirit in this election year. It is our civic responsibility to vote for the right leaders to pilot this country’s affairs.
“Let our choices not be guided by ethno-religious, social and political sentiments, but rather by values of good conscience. We are burdened by security challenges occasioned by socio-economic problems in a country blessed with enormous human and natural wealth. Bearing this in mind, let our choices be guided equally by thoughts of the future of our children and generation unborn.”
