The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, on Monday urged Nigerians to avoid desperate politicians by voting only credible candidates in 2019.
Ayokunle made the remarks while briefing newsmen after a meeting with representatives of 14 Presidential Candidates in Abuja, on their plans for Nigerians and the church.
He said that the church decided to reach out to the stakeholders and the presidential candidates to ask them their credentials for aspiring to the highest position in the country.
According to him, the church cannot keep quite in this situation because the church can only prosper when a nation prospers. If the 2019 election is not free and fair all Nigerians will be in trouble including the church.
The cleric who expressed disappointment over the desperation of politicians towards the 2019 general elections said the motive for the meeting should not be taken for granted, adding that the security of Nigerians was paramount.
He urged the Independent Electoral Commission, (INEC), the Nigeria Army, the Police and other security agencies to abide by electoral rules to avoid crisis during and after the election.
“I spoke with President Muhammadu Buhari and he told him that when we conducted the 2015 elections people didn’t expect it to be so free and fair but the way it was conducted gave us a sense of pride in the international community.
“If the 2019 election is not better, if the police are not better behaved, if the army is not better behaved, if INEC is not better behaved the entire election process might be a failure.
“If politicians are not better behaved and they show desperation, it will be a failure. We are again warning politicians.
“The desperation we saw at the intra-party election is given us concern. If they can be so desperate and they end up fighting what will they do when they contest with opposition, the desperation is too much,” he said.
Ayokunle also urged Nigerians to beware of jobless politicians whose job description was politics, adding that such people should not be allowed to contest for any position.
“Leading Nigeria is a sacrifice. Why do you want to lead by force. Go and rest you do not need to destroy the entire land,” NAN quoted him as saying.
DAILY POST had reported that the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, is represented President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Peter Obi, stood in for Atiku Abubakar.
The former Minister of Education Obi Ezekwesili who is the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress party of Nigeria, (ACPN) was also in attendance.
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