Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Emeritus Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abuja, on Thursday, said that those who rigged the February 25, 2023, presidential and governorship elections in Nigeria know what they did and God knows them.

Onaiyekan who stated this while featuring on a Channels TV programme, noted that though the courts and tribunals sitting on various election petitions before them may not know those who rigged the elections, he insisted that God knows them and they (election riggers) know themselves.

The cleric also said winners of elections that are being contested in court should not be sworn in until the conclusion of the matter.

“The election is not yet over. There are cases in court that have not been disposed of. That is why we are in an anomalous situation; we have a declared President-elect whose result is being challenged, and the court is handling it.

“I am entitled to take the position that I am still waiting for the court to determine who won the election.

“I am one of those who have been saying that it does not make much sense to swear in people when they are still in court.

“We have to review the election process to ensure we have a winner who will be sworn in and everybody would rally around.

“I can’t understand; I am not a legal man or judge; it is a pity that it is taking too long for the Court to make up their mind on this matter,” he said.

Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress was declared the winner of the presidential election conducted on February 25, 2023.

His victory is being challenged in court by some of his challengers in the election including Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

Onaiyekan said there are countries that don't want to call and hear the name of God yet they are doing the right thing and organising the affairs of their nations well. He, however, regretted that Nigerians who call on the name of God have refused to follow God's precept to do the right thing.

"You know when you are doing the right thing and when you are doing the bad thing. Those who rigged the election know they rigged the election. Those who didn't allow the people's will to prevail, they know it.

“Those who have heated up the polity, they know it in their heart of heart. The wonderful thing is that God himself know them, we may not know, even the court may not know but God knows them and they know themselves.

"So, the more we mention God, the more we should be on guard not to be found using the name of God in vain. There are countries who don't want to mention God but they are running their affairs well. But if we decide to keep mentioning God, we must run our affairs according to God's will otherwise we end up giving God a bad name. God forbid.

"I am now talking as a Cardinal; I want to ask my fellow countrymen; we should not apologise for the fact that we keep God constantly in our prayers and in our national life. We can't throw God away. That means we must run our affairs and live our lives according to God's will and we cannot pretend we don't know what God wants from all of us."

IyaebeTheGreat:
Mtcheww. These ones have all left God's work and have turned politicians, one of them even won governorship election in Benue state. Let's continue to deceive ourselves in this life while our truth remains with God

ovieigho:


When they speak the truth you’ll say they left the work of God

IyaebeTheGreat:
Mtcheww. These ones have all left God's work and have turned politicians, one of them even won governorship election in Benue state. Let's continue to deceive ourselves in this life while our truth remains with God

yarimo:
ONAIYEKAN don't worry obi won't ask for refund of his bribe to Christian association of Nigeria CAN for endorsement

nairalandkachy1:
“The elections are not over…. I’m still waiting for the courts to tell me who won the election”.

“The court is now on trial.” - Cardinal Onaiyekan


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuztI85aFiQ



https://saharareporters.com/2023/05/04/it-doesnt-make-sense-swear-tinubu-others-whose-victories-are-being-challenged-court-yet

Nlfpmod Mynd44

drlateef:




He should go and stop them from swearing him in. Shameless man of devil. You have no evidence of rigging, but because you hate him, you say all the nonsense.

Parachoko:
Cardinal Onaiyekan is a clown who do not know there's a laid down law about the issue is making an ignorant comment about.

He should be crying to the lawmaker representing him so that the electoral law will take care of the issue he's crying about

IyaebeTheGreat:
Mtcheww. These ones have all left God's work and have turned politicians, one of them even won governorship election in Benue state. Let's continue to deceive ourselves in this life while our truth remains with God

seunmsg:
It makes no sense to call a victorious candidate a rigger when the case is still in court and a decision has not been made. Ordinarily, one would expect an Onaiyekan to know this but he’s an obedient so common sense is not application when analyzing issues. Just reason based on hatred for the president- elect and religious sentiments.

All presidential elections since 1999 have been disputed except that of 2015 and there was no time Onaiyekan or anyone else called for the winners not to be sworn-in based on the disputes and claims of rigging. Not even the fraudulent 2007 election. So, what’s now different?

GBAM!!

Look at the way a prince of the Catholic church is behaving

The clergy have really turned our religion into a laughing stock now. The common law (which is mostly based on the bible and Jesus teachings ) says you are innocent till proven guilty but because their candidate lost, they have reversed his teachings and turned it the other way round.

I mean how can any true MOG support a politician over another one because you said he "rigged", is he trying to say Obi and LP did not rig even one ballot box in this country?? These are the same people who will disturb us on Sunday morning and preach about how Jesus dealt with the adulterer and the "saints" that wanted to stone her....it is clear these so called MOG do not fear their maker a bit!!!

May the Good Lord judge them the way they deserve.

Burruchaga71:
Tinubu should never be swear inn or we set this country ablaze.

Penguin2:


Unfortunately you are the one guilty of what you are accusing Onaiyekan of.

That the current law says the first court of instance must not exceed 6 months in an electoral matter, does it mean it is illegal if the case is decided within one week? Not to talk one month?

yarimo:
ONAIYEKAN don't worry obi won't ask for refund of his bribe to Christian association of Nigeria CAN for endorsement

VinnyBaba:

God Bless Cardinal Onaiyekan
God Bless Ibioyiomie
God Bless Paul Enenche
God Bless Bishop David Oyedepo. 😊😎

The Grand plan of this Devilish APC Party and Power Holders of Nigeria
is to Ensure no CHRISTIAN Person becomes President. 😒

Dats why When we have Christian Presidents like
Jonathan
Obasanjo
They gave them too much Headaches.

VinnyBaba:

God Bless Cardinal Onaiyekan
God Bless Ibioyiomie
God Bless Paul Enenche
God Bless Bishop David Oyedepo. 😊😎

The Grand plan of this Devilish APC Party and Power Holders of Nigeria
is to Ensure no CHRISTIAN Person becomes President. 😒

Dats why When we have Christian Presidents like
Jonathan
Obasanjo
They gave them too much Headaches.

Herdsmen:
Yoruba Apc people will abuse God’s servant over a statement … feared that he’s referring to their daddy druggie asiwaju

Over 50 elections petitions … yet at the mere mention of the word petition … instant cold and fever go just come on them.. some seizures..

… not to mention presidential election petitions.. they forcefully release a venom of insult and curses..

All na fear of what’s coming …

If peradventure tinubu finally returns that stolen document

Walahi Allah.. their will be massive suicide in Yoruba southwest Nigeria

This is not a joke ….