.Says endorsement of presidential candidates doesn’t guarantee victory for parties
The Nigerian Baptist Convention has tasked the Federal Government on the need to be proactive in tackling the worsening economy, migration of young Nigerians overseas, brigandage in politics and insecurity.
The Convention also said that endorsement of presidential candidates by influential personalities in the country could not guarantee victory for political parties in the coming general elections as voters are now sophisticated and are better informed.
Rather than allow the opinions of voters to be swayed by men of influence, the NBC advised the electorate to vote according to their conscience.
Recall that endorsement of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in a letter, as well as Chief Edwin Clark’s declaration, generated reactions in some quarters recently.
However, in a statement by its President, Rev. Dr Israel Akanji, on Wednesday, the Convention counselled that Nigerians should vote for candidates who are capable of delivering dividends of democracy and put the nation on the path of progress.
Akanji was quoted at a press conference by the Nigerian Baptist Convention held at the Baptist Building, Oke Bola, Ibadan, Oyo State, as saying, “Elder statesmen and highly respected opinion leaders like former President Obasanjo and Edwin Clack are entitled to their opinions but I don’t see Nigerians rushing to do what they have said.
“Sometimes you need to ask questions on what some of these leaders said, whether they are right or wrong, even leaders themselves are human beings, they have limitations. For me, they have the right to express themselves; I have no problem with that, just don’t stop others from expressing themselves.”
Stating that there was reduction in kidnapping, banditry and terrorism as year 2022 ended, the NBC President stressed that the sorrow of insecurity, terrorism, economic depression, social vices and religious bigotry would eventually be averted.
In the statement issued by the Convention president, he prayed that the country would never experience the ordeal of ASUU strike again.
The statement read that “We are concerned at the rate of migration of young Nigerians to other countries of the world because the number of very young, brilliant, vibrant, and strong Nigerians who have left the country in the last one year is alarming. Too many people are either unemployed or underemployed. Very top performing professionals, particularly in the academic, medical, engineering and technological fields are exiting the nation in droves.”
Titled, ‘Press release on the New Year for Nigeria,’ it further read, “Government has to ensure job security for our unemployed graduates so that the future of our nation will be preserved. Very experienced professionals have deserted our hospitals due to very low pay. Medical equipment cannot be brought into the nation due to very high cost and an unimaginably poor foreign exchange rate.
“The economy is so bad that everything has become very costly and Nigerian professionals are being offered better emoluments all over the world. Our government must address this situation as soon as possible in this New Year.
We are also very worried about the situation of power in the nation. Power is so unstable that almost every household has to generate its own electricity through the purchase of generators.
“It is shocking that most countries of the world with lower economic strength are able to have sustained electricity supply, but Nigeria is still groping in the dark. It is hoped that this situation will be a thing of the past soonest and our government must take this matter very seriously.
“It is sad that fuel scarcity has become a dominant disappointment in Nigeria. How can it be explained that all over our cities, long fuel queues and fuel hawlking is the order of the day? There is an urgent need for this very situation to be urgently corrected.
“Our government has to look into the issue of bad roads all over the country. The situation is so bad that one can travel for two hours on a road that should not be more than 30 minutes to drive on. This makes life stressful for Nigerians and the need to look into the issues of our roads cannot be overemphasized.
“The 2023 election has been a matter of prayers and enlightenment for us in the Church. We have been praying for a peaceful and smooth election in the year 2023. Before now, we have encouraged our members and all people of good will, character and charisma, to be involved in politics – to be ready to be voted for and to vote. This led us to take stringent steps to ensure that our people got their PVC.
“The days are now at hand for the elections and we wish to counsel all Nigerians to perform their civic responsibilities with uttermost respect for fellow Nigerians, for life and property. We have warned young people not to allow themselves to be agents of thurgry or political criminality. People have also been encouraged to vote according to their conscience for people who will be of great benefit to Nigerians, wherever they may come from.
“We wish to enjoin all political contestants to ensure fair play and to shun election malpractices. We are again urging all our politicians to display a good spirit of sportsmanship and not make the elections a do or die affair. We believe that God, who has always helped us in Nigeria, will help us again. Those who lose elections now can win another time, if God permits.
“We wish to oppose the use of foul language during the electioneering campaigns. It is wrong to abuse any person who is making the effort to make Nigeria a better country. Such people who are laying down their lives so that our nation can be developed and stable should not be castigated by those who are unwilling to make the kind of sacrifices they are making. We know that our God will hand Nigeria unto whoever He dims fit.
“Nigerians should ensure that only the right candidates are voted for at the national and state elections.”
