Niger State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna has appealed to the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and his team at state levels to be firm, upright and to remain unbiased in the discharge of its duties as the nation approaches the 2023 general elections.
Yohanna who is also the Bishop of Kontagora Diocese stated this in his Christmas message in Minna.
He told the people to use the opportunity to elect leaders who have the capacity, credibility and good character among other qualities to create an enabling environment for all Nigerians to thrive, live in dignity and in peace and in God-given freedom.
Yohanna also implored all leaders of churches to take the association’s call seriously by encouraging their members to go and collect their PVCs and not be discouraged by the wait time that may be required.
“We should not stop at the stage of encouragement; 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 vote to bring to fulfilment the good that God desires for us and for our nation,” he stated.
The Niger CAN noted 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.”
Speaking on Christmas, the cleric said: “It is a special period that brings people of the world together with one purpose, to celebrate togetherness, joy, peace, and above all, to share love with one another through the exchange of goodwill and gifts.”
He said further that: “God’s deepest desire for us is to be truly free. The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is to free people from the bondage of sin and as followers of Jesus, we are called to do no less. “
He also added:” as we celebrate the yuletide season, I admonish us all 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.”
