The Catholic Bishops of Lagos Ecclesiastical
Province (LEP) have cautioned Nigerian electorate
against allowing themselves to be financially
induced by unscrupulous politicians.
They made the call in a statement signed by their
president, Archbishop Adewale Martins on
Saturday in Lagos.
The statement said the call followed the decisions
reached at the end of a conference of the bishops,
recently held at St Agnes Catholic Church,
Maryland, Lagos.
They called on voters across the country to vote
their conscience.
“To sell one’s vote is to sell one’s conscience, as
good citizens, we must avoid actions that will
reduce the credibility of the elections,†the
statement quoted the clerics as saying.
The Bishops urged Nigerians to defend the
country’s democracy by electing patriotic and
credible leadership that would be sensitive to
peoples’ plight.
“Being an election year, 2019 appears delicate;
we call on Nigerians to carry out their civic
responsibilities with diligence and patriotism.
“Nigerians should see the election as a duty to
enthrone good leadership, and no amount of
financial inducement should sway us,†the clerics
admonished.
The Bishops further called on the electorate to
shun politicians and parties that indulged in
violence and electoral vices.
They also called on the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) to give equal
treatment to all the parties in order to ensure
fairness and credibility.
“The hopes of a free and fair election in Nigeria
rests on the ability of INEC to be neutral in the
discharge of its duties,†the religious leaders
stressed. (NAN)
Source:
www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/catholic-
bishops-caution-nigerians-against-vote-selling/
