₦airaland Forum

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, has called on Nigerians to participate actively in the upcoming elections by voting, warning that abstaining from voting was a disservice to the Christian faith.

Kaigama made the call at the 3rd Abuja Catholic Archdiocesan General Assembly with the theme “Witness in Politics: The Role of the Catholic Faithful” which is being held at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Abuja.

He said, “By voting, we are all fulfilling our calling to sanctify the society; one cannot complain of bad governance if they didn’t vote during elections.

“You can’t complain about the government if you don’t vote and you do your Christian faith a great disservice by abstaining from voting.”

The cleric also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to “more than ever before, especially with the passage of the electoral bill, ensure transparency, probity and fairness.”

He expressed worry that “politics in Nigeria is considered as a business,” describing it as “superior to probity” and, therefore, tasked political parties to be forthcoming on how best they would address the issues bedeviling the polity like “insecurity, deteriorating public health and education, the current inflationary trends, resulting in high living conditions.”

“We tend to elect our worst and leave out the best and seem to view elections as a matter of ethnic and religious alliances. This should be disturbing to all well-meaning citizens.

“The inability to realise meaningful change in our socio-political and economic environment is as a result of the culture of corruption and very poor governance, coupled with untamed political, religious and ethnic sentiments.

“To reverse this unfortunate trend, there is the need for a complete change in the way we do politics. If the primary purpose of politicking is to win elections, then the justifiable end is to govern well.

“We, therefore, call on Catholics and indeed; all Christians to be aware of their own specific vocation within the political community and the need to defend our points of view by honest methods (cf. GS 75).”

In his goodwill message, the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel C. Okoh, called on those engaged in partisan politics to remember that “we need to provide leadership in showing these right values so that we can influence good governance that will bring about a peaceful and prosperous nation.’

“Even as Christian politicians mix up with the good, the bad and the ugly, they should not envy the wicked as Psalm 37 teaches us because we know that their ways end in destruction. We must bring the good news of our Lord to bring the long desired change in governance,” he said.

immortalcrown:
You just proved you are even weaker than Tinubu.

immortalcrown:
Try harder, your stupidity is bigger than what you have already done.

immortalcrown:
Neither is it your business. I never said they do not have the right. I myself have the right to share my opinion.

immortalcrown:
Your inability to explain why you quoted me with the meme is a proof that stupidity is in your family blood. Continue to display it.

immortalcrown:
If stupidity is not in your family lineage, justify quoting me with the meme.

jerseyboy:
Newly wed Ibos

immortalcrown:
Put politics aside, this one is clout unless they took all their guests to join the rally.

Cyberterror:
Why didn't you show us aerial view to see how many they are

senijah:
The rally no get videos ?

trutharena:
No one is saying private jet is wrong if Peter Obi had not initially portray some modesty by lying he does not fly private jets.

He once lied he has no other house outside Anambra anywhere until people unraveled his house in the UK.

He once lied he has only one wristwatch until people unraveled his many wristwatches. He lies effortlessly.

Awolowo used helicopters to campaign in the 70s. Nothing wrong in campaigning with it but everything is wrong if you lied about using it and then people now see you in it.

BeautifulMind2:
Oboy this one na mother rally

https://fb.watch/fKFr8e0zFb/
Lalasticlala

AsomughaChuks05:
Most of them were given branded T shirts for the event an indication that they have been induced materially one way or the other. Walking down the road and voting are two different things.

OnionBandit:
I think these sit-@-home urchins will die from Tinubu's actions before eRection day

If Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, becomes president next year, it is not only his exclusionist Muslim-Muslin presidency that would unsettle Nigeria, but also his would-be deputy, Alhaji Kashim Shettima. With Shettima’s inherent tetchiness and truculence, he would be gratuitously provocative. And with his uncouthness and indiscretion, he would be utterly divisive and toxifying. Truth is, a Vice-President Shettima would be unlike any civilian vice-president in Nigeria’s history.

But that proposition stands on another critical one that we must discuss first, namely: no previous presidential candidate in Nigeria did what Tinubu has done. I’m not referring to the devilry of his Muslim-Muslim ticket. Rather, I’m talking about his deliberate decision to pick a long-standing political ally and close associate as his running-mate. None of the past leading presidential candidates behaved in that manner.

Consider the evidence. Shehu Shagari barely personally knew Alex Ekwueme before making him his running-mate; MKO Abiola had no prior close political or personal relationship with Baba Gana Kingibe; Olusegun Obasanjo was not Atiku Abubakar’s buddy; Umaru Musa Yar’Adua hardly personally knew Goodluck Jonathan; Jonathan himself had no prior long-standing political or personal relationship with Namadi Sambo; and Muhammadu Buhari wouldn’t, prior to 2015, regard Osinbajo as a political soulmate.

But Tinubu puts personal friendship and loyalty above all else. As Lagos State governor, Tinubu had three deputy governors within eight years, having triggered the impeachments of two of them. So, a plausible interpretation is that he doesn’t want to work with a vice-president with whom he has no cosy, bonded relationship. Thus, he picked as running-mate a long-standing political ally, who ran his presidential primary campaign and was neck-deep in the shenanigans that secured him victory.

Given Tinubu’s style of politics, this is potentially dangerous. His feudalisation of Lagos State politics and government is based on treating the state as a personal fiefdom, whereby he, the feudal lord, is surrounded by ultra-loyal serfs, who all seem to have sworn to an oath of secrecy. There must be real fear that a President Tinubu and a Vice-President Shettima would put their personal loyalty above open government; that their cosiness would trump good governance. Sadly, the omens are bad!

Recently, Shettima audaciously carved out functions between himself and Tinubu. He said that if they won next year, he would be “in charge of” security while Tinubu would handle the economy. Essentially, Shettima was reversing the traditional and constitutional roles of president and vice-president. Traditionally and constitutionally, the vice-president, as chairman of the National Economic Council and head of the Economic Management Committee, leads on the economy, albeit reporting to the president. But the president, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is undisputedly in charge of national security. For a vice-president to be “in charge of” security, he must have control over the security chiefs, who are usually answerable to the Commander-in-Chief. A feasible proposition? No, it’s a recipe for utter dysfunctionality!

Indeed, come to think of it. Why would someone who, as state governor, ignored intelligence warnings about the abduction of the 276 Chibok girls in 2014, some of whom still remain in captivity, be so arrogant and insensitive as to say he would be “in charge of” security if he became vice president? And why would a presidential candidate that prioritises the national interest agree to such a warped idea from his running-mate? No previous vice-presidential candidate displayed such a muscular and ambitious tendency.

But, in truth, there are worrying parallels between Tinubu and Shettima. Last week, Shettima listed Tinubu’s attributes that he admires. Speaking at the 96th anniversary celebration of the Yoruba Tennis Club in Ikoyi, Lagos, on September 15, Shettima said, among other things, that Tinubu has General Ibrahim Babangida’s “situational pragmatism and Maradonic skills” and General Sani Abacha’s “taciturnity and ruthlessness”.

Of course, considering how Tinubu manoeuvred his party’s leadership, delegates, and fellow aspirants to secure the presidential ticket, none would doubt his Maradonic or Machiavellian skills. And seeing how he turned Lagos State into a captive fiefdom, his ruthlessness can never be questioned. Taciturnity? Well, try and ask Tinubu about his past. These are the qualities Shettima praised to high heaven, but they are not the attributes Nigerians need in their leader.

Which brings us to Shettima himself. What are his unique attributes? And are they fit for purpose? Well, first, there’s a consensus that the former Borno State governor, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural economics, is well read and eloquent, with a fondness for quoting great authors. But as Isaiah Berlin says in his great essay ‘The Hedgehog and the Fox’, knowledge is not wisdom. Knowledge is having considerable information; wisdom is using it in a way that shows good judgement.

Unfortunately, Shettima often doesn’t exercise wisdom in his words and actions. He showed this character flaw during his aggressive management of Tinubu’s presidential primary campaign when he insulted virtually every opponent, including saying that “nice men” like Vice President Yemi Osinbajo “should be selling popcorn and ice-cream”. He showed it when he wore sneakers to the annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, later boasting that he did so “deliberately” to “mock” his detractors. Hardly vice-presidential!

But if those examples are trivial, consider this. The only defining issue in Nigeria today is restructuring. But what did Shettima say about it? In a viral video, he said: “Restructuring my foot.” Really? Dismissing such a critical national issue so uncouthly?

All this matters because, truth be told, if Tinubu wins next year, Nigeria would be more turbulent and divided than it has been under President Buhari. In such circumstances, a belligerent vice-president with a tendency for tetchiness would exacerbate the situation. Nigeria is inherently volatile and prone to crisis. It needs a calm and thoughtful vice-president who can help douse tension, not one that will inflame it through reckless and provocative comments. Shettima simply doesn’t fit the bill.

plaindealer:
I see, Pandora met with some villagers too.

He added that his decision was based on competence and not religious considerations, noting that only competence can resolve the political and socio-economic challenges bedevilling the nation.

AdamuKD:
Stop this already
We have spoken our mind. It's now left for us to do the needful

Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday met with some Christian leaders under the umbrella of the Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria.

At the meeting, Tinubu stated that his choice of a former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima was not a threat to the Christian community.

He added that his decision was based on competence and not religious considerations, noting that only competence can resolve the political and socio-economic challenges bedevilling the nation.

The APC presidential candidate said he has always been a friend of the Christian community and he should be considered based on his track records, plans and agenda for developing Nigeria.

In his brief comment at the meeting, Chairman of Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria, Archbishop John Praise, said they are not committed to endorsing anybody, but urged Nigerians to decide what is best for them.

Putinofrussia:
Mumu post.

EndsarsReloaded:
Wow, such an interesting article. It seems that Northern Christians have finally woken up!

2023 elections will shock many!!

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has asked Christians in Nigeria not to waste their votes by voting for the Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 election.

Mr Dogara stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at a summit tagged ‘Meet the Church’ organised by the Nigerian National Christians Coalition (NNCC).

The position of the former speaker was contained in a statement by his media aide, Turaki Hassan.

The APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, a Muslim from the South-west, was expected in some quarters to pick a Christian northerner as his running mate to balance his ticket.

However, the former Lagos State governor opted for Kashim Shettima, a Muslim and former Borno State governor, as his running mate.

Mr Tinubu had justified the choice of Mr Shettima as a matter of competence.

Since the announcement of Mr Shettima as running mate, Mr Dogara and some other Christian Northern APC leaders, including a former secretary to the government of the federation, Babachir Lawal, and Elisha Abbo, a senator representing Adamawa North, have openly expressed opposition to the ticket.

Perhaps, to address the grievances of Christians, Mr Tinubu appointed Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, a northern Christian, as the director general of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

Tinubu ignored the warning of CAN
Mr Dogara said Mr Tinubu did not only ignore the advice of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) against the same faith ticket but also dismissed it.

He said the church must be awakened from its complacency and resist the decision of the ruling party.

“Every Christian knows that our God does not tolerate waste. It is unchristian for the church to waste anything given to us from above as we own nothing except what is given to us from above,” Mr Dogara said.

“These warnings were not only ignored but dismissed in one fell swoop by the APC presidential candidate who strangely believes that he can build a strong, secure and viable nation-state without first forging a shared identity, vision and values for our people thereby enabling us transit from citizens of a country into a nation of people with strong shared identity and values.”

Mr Dogara said the fact that some Islamic clerics and Muslim leaders condemned the same faith ticket shows that the church is right to have opposed the ticket.

He noted that it is a good omen that elites are united in opposing the same faith ticket presented by the ruling party.

“To demonstrate that the church is right, it is not alone in condemning the same faith ticket, other prominent Islamic clerics and Muslim leaders have also spoken in the same light.

“It is a good omen that both Christian and Muslim elites are not complacent over this matter. To this end, it will be easy to generate the needed elite consensus that is key to nation-building. All nations are built by elite consensus while all countries that failed at nation-building were destroyed by elite complacency.

“Granted that the Christians and Muslims will always disagree on some issues, there are, however, many things over which we are agreeable. It is enough to forge ahead with the task of nation-building based on those common issues we agree on.

“It must be noted that just as Muslims alone cannot build a nation out of Nigeria so also Christians alone cannot. We have to work together on “nation formations,” he said.

He charged the church to awaken from the “beast of complacency” and resist the same faith ticket.

kingthreat:
Question here is why should the police be trained on tax payer's money only to become orderlies in people's homes?
Second observation is why is it that yam legged women have a knack for assaulting their maids and staff who are fellow females like them?
All these violent Obi supporters ehn.

Throwback:
Ostrich!

You never tire to bury your head in the ground just to claim ignorance?

Once they are arrested or killed, you will change tune that they are innocent Igbo youths.

You sure say we no go blame Tinubu like this?
Or DSS,lol
Una just dey start,go ask soludo wetin em talk,na una dey drop unaself stop blaming another tribe.