Religious leaders in the North in particular and Nigeria in general have been charged to stand firm in the face of intimidation in the era of electioneering process, and speak truth to power no matter the circumstances they find themselves.
The chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and FCT, Rev. Dr Yakubu Pam, gave the charge in his address at a prayer summit organised by the body in Kaduna.
He said: “Our people look up to us for leadership, especially at this time of our democratic experience, we must not fail them, we must provide the needed leadership and direction for our people so that this house must not fall,” he said.
Rev. Pam said the time when Christians show apathy on political issues was over and enjoined all to come out en masse and participate in the electioneering process, stressing that it was the only way to produce good leaders.
“Christians should come out as never before to vote and be voted for in the forthcoming general elections in February 2023. It is expected that every eligible Christian should take it upon himself or herself to register with INEC and should not stop there, rather should ensure that he or she gets the PVC so that they can participate in the voting process.
“The government whether at the federal or state level should be proactive in addressing challenges and conflicts that might arise before, during and post-election period. The government has a role to play in ensuring smooth electioneering campaign and smooth transition without bloodbath.
“It is equally the responsibility of the government to ensure a level playing field for all the candidates of all the
political parties and voters so that at the end of the day we can have a credible election that could be accepted by Nigerians and the international community.
“Aside the government, all the major stakeholders who have stakes in the election should work in synergy and handle issues promptly without delay. The government cannot do it alone, even the citizenry have their own role to play by making sure that the election is not marred by violence. They should shun all forms of criminality, violence and disturbances during the election.”
