₦airaland Forum

Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, His Eminence, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, on Wednesday said the same faith ticket of the All Progressives Congress was a political decision based on a calculation to win votes.

Onaiyekan however said as a voter in the next general elections, he would not vote for the same faith ticket of the ruling party.

The clergy, who spoke at the 1st synod of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, held in Ede, Osun state, said there was no need to comment on the decision of a political party, but as a Church, facts about the matter should be presented to people, who will also take their own political decisions.

He said, “You will note that the Catholic Bishop Conference has not taken any action on the Muslim/Muslim ticket of All Progressives Congress. The reason is that the Muslim/Muslim ticket is a political decision taken by APC as a party on the calculation that it is their best way to win the election or assure their victory in the 2023 general election.

“There is no point telling them not to take such a decision, all you can say is that they will have to accept responsibility for the decision they have taken. I only have one voter’s card and by God’s grace, I will use it. I will definitely not vote for a Muslim/Muslim ticket. That is my decision.

“But since is a political decision of a political party, what the church can do officially is bring out the fact and tell people that they should take their political decision accordingly.”

Delivering a paper on the topic, ‘Church as an agent of dialogue and reconciliation in our community in the quest for just and peaceful societal order’ at the event attended by a representative of Grand Imam of Osun State, Sheik Musa Animasaun, the president Osun Baptist Conference, Dr Paul Kolawole, and Dr. Abiodun Fafolarin, the Secretary, International Council for Ifa Religion, among others, Onaiyekan, said continuous dialogue should be encouraged to promote harmony.

In his goodwill message read by Sheihk Abdusalam Akinwumi, the grand Imam of Osun state, Sheikh Animasaun, commended the Catholic Bishop of Osogbo Diocese, Most Rev. John Oyejola, for his efforts to promote religious harmony in the state.

He assured of more commitment to efforts that would sustain religious harmony in Osun working with the Catholic church and other leaders.