MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH AND NATION ARISING FROM THE POLITICAL AWARENESS SEMINAR HELD FOR THE BISHOPS OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 2006, AT ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL, DIOBU, PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE.
INTRODUCTION
The Bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) met in a seminar on Political Awareness in the country on the 13th day of September 2006 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s Diobu, Port Harcourt in the Diocese of Niger Delta North. After a very deep prayerful exposition and exhaustive deliberation on the current political process, as well as the security demands, mobilization and laws towards a successful general elections in the country next year, issues the following statements to the Church:
1. Commendation
The House of Bishops highly commends the leadership of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) for putting in place such an educative, informative and brainstorming seminar for the house of bishops at this crucial stage of our national history and development. It also places on record, the contributions of our Resource Persons: Prof. Maurice M. Iwu, chairman Independent Electoral Commission, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Faruk, Director General, National Orientation Agency and Hon. Austin Opara, Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, towards the success of the seminar. The first three personalities not only attended in persons, but also made remarkable contributions that have made the Church and her leaders better informed on the ongoing electoral process in the country.
2. The Church and an Enduring Democratic Process in Nigeria
The House of Bishops strongly believes that the feeling in certain quarters that Nigerians by nature are incapable of doing things right is not only false but also unfounded. It however identifies the problem as having to do with the wrong mindset, which people have built over the years. To conduct a credible election in Nigeria come 2007 is not only possible but also feasible.
Conscious of the fact that a new political culture is germane to the emergence of the new Nigeria of our dream, the Church therefore commits itself irrevocably to partner with all relevant electoral agencies or bodies to ensure a successful general elections in Nigeria not only in 2007 but also in subsequent elections. While regretting her political aloofness and inertia, the Church believes that the need to wrest politics out from the hands of hawks and predators into those of godly and patriotic Nigerians is urgent, imperative and compelling. It (the Church) therefore commits itself to the following programmes of action:
Aggressive Electoral Education Programme
Part of the mandate of the Church is teaching. She is to teach all things necessary for the growth and development of the human society towards the path of godliness and righteousness. To this end, every Ecclesiastical Province and Diocese in the Church of Nigeria should carefully study all the relevant electoral laws and acts and endeavour to explain same to the electorate as a way of getting them well informed enough to be able to resist the manipulations of wicked politicians. Political Education is to become part and parcel of the Church’s mission and ministry.
Awareness Campaign
Every bishop is enjoined within his Diocese to identify, persuade and encourage men and women of integrity and good Christian virtues to present themselves for elective positions and/or offices. It believes that only when such people get interested and involved will our society be on the path of recovery and rectitude. It should be made clear to people that shying away from active politics is both an anti social behaviour and an ungodly act.
Mobilization and Sensitization of the Electorate
It is the duty of every bishop to mobilize, sensitize and conscientize all eligible voters to endeavour to be card carrying members of any political party of their choice. Again every true Nigerian Christians should see it as a duty to participate fully in the forthcoming revision of voters Register so as to take active part in the process that will lead to the emergence of God-fearing leaders at all levels in our country next year.
The Youth and Electoral Violence
Every diocese in the Church of Nigeria should organize an awareness seminar for the youths on the need of resisting the temptation of mortgaging their future in the hands of wicked politicians for a plate of portage. The dangers of offering themselves as political thugs for doing odd jobs should be highlighted to prevent them from being willing tools in the hands of mischief makers.
Election Monitoring Groups
The problem with the electoral process in Nigeria also include the fact that in most cases the election results do not reflect the actual voting pattern. The need therefore to protect the peoples votes becomes absolutely necessary. It shall therefore be established in every diocese, Ecclesiastical Province, and the National Church, election monitoring groups that will make available to the Church the true voting pattern so as to ensure that the results eventually declared represent the wishes of the people of this country.
Discipline of Errant Politicians
The Church shall henceforth rediscover, dust and exercise fully her instrument of discipline and use it strongly on any member of the Church, no matter how highly placed, who as a politician, engages in or encourages thuggery, and or any form of electoral violence or malpractice or whose conduct in the political arena did not befit a Christian.
The Church is eternally committed to its time-honoured prophetic ministry that declares the whole mind of God fearlessly and uncompromisingly so that the people of this nation shall know the truth that sets free. Our prayer for the nation, her leaders and people shall be intensified so that the year 2007 will indeed be to us all an acceptable year of the Lord towards a better Nigerian nation.
May God bless us all.
+Peter Akinola
(Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria).
MESSAGE TO THE NATION
INTRODUCTION
The Bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) met in a seminar on Political Awareness in the country on the 13th day of September, 2006 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s Diobu, Port Harcourt in the Diocese of Niger Delta North. After a very deep prayerful exposition and exhaustive deliberation on the current political process, as well as the security demands, mobilization and laws towards a successful general elections in the country next year, issues the following statements:
Commendation
The House of Bishops highly commends the leadership of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) for putting in place such an educative, informative and brainstorming seminar for the house of bishops at this crucial stage of our national history and development. It also places on record, the contributions of our Resource Persons: Prof. Maurice M. Iwu, chairman Independent Electoral Commission, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Faruk, Director General, National Orientation Agency and Hon. Austin Opara, Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, towards the success of the seminar. The first three personalities not only attended in persons, but also made remarkable contributions that have made the Church and her leaders better informed on the ongoing electoral process in the country.
INEC and 2007 General Elections
The Church of Nigeria admires with great enthusiasm, the zeal, commitment and determination of the Independent National electoral Commission to conduct a very credible election in the country come 2007. It however notes with sadness that since independence, the electoral process in Nigeria has been characterized by massive rigging, political violence and thuggery, politics of bitterness and imposition of candidates among others. It also decries the fact that party politics has, most of the time, not been issue-based, but driven by primordial sentiments and quest for political power and public office, not as a means of bringing about development, but as vehicles of personal aggrandizement and disbursement of patronages to supporters and cronies. Synod enjoins INEC to be resolute and steadfast in its determination to make the forthcoming general elections a watershed for an enduring democratic culture in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Police and the Democratic Electoral Process
The House of Bishops underscores the crucial but central role of the Nigerian Police in ensuring the success of the democratic electoral process in this country. It is however inconsolably worried that the Nigerian Police is not only ill-equipped, but also poorly motivated for their job. That the Nigerian Police has no functional aircraft for effective surveillance and monitoring, coupled with the fact that armed robbers and social miscreants have stronger fire-power is not only a threat, but posses a real danger to the maintenance of peace, order, security and good governance in this country. It therefore calls on the Federal Government to take urgent steps at repositioning the Nigerian Police for effective discharge of their constitutional obligations by ensuring not only the provision of modern security gadgets and apparatus, but also an improved welfare package that will adequately motivate them for their very delicate job.
The Federal Government and the Success of the 2007 General Elections
The Bishops note with satisfaction that the present government of the Federation is leaving no stone unturned in an effort to engender a true democratic culture that will ensure the realization of the dreams of our founding fathers at independence. Worthy of special mention are the various legislations being put in place to ensure free and fair elections, setting of limits for election expenses by various candidates from the office of the President to Ward Councilors, and the unrelenting war against corruption in the country. It urges Mr. President and his team to remain resolute until Nigeria truly becomes the motherland of our dream.
Politics Without Bitterness
The House of Bishops reminds Nigerians that politics is about sharing of ideas. It is therefore very wrong and ungodly to allow bitterness and acrimony to rise to the level of contemplating, planning and actual assassination of perceived political opponents. It reminds our brothers and sisters in partisan politics of the truism that “whatever a man sows, that he will reap” and warns those who see politics as a do or die affair to save the successive generations of their families from the curse that goes with the shedding of innocent blood.
May God bless us all.
+Peter Akinola
(Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria).
INTRODUCTION
The Bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) met in a seminar on Political Awareness in the country on the 13th day of September 2006 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s Diobu, Port Harcourt in the Diocese of Niger Delta North. After a very deep prayerful exposition and exhaustive deliberation on the current political process, as well as the security demands, mobilization and laws towards a successful general elections in the country next year, issues the following statements to the Church:
1. Commendation
The House of Bishops highly commends the leadership of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) for putting in place such an educative, informative and brainstorming seminar for the house of bishops at this crucial stage of our national history and development. It also places on record, the contributions of our Resource Persons: Prof. Maurice M. Iwu, chairman Independent Electoral Commission, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Faruk, Director General, National Orientation Agency and Hon. Austin Opara, Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, towards the success of the seminar. The first three personalities not only attended in persons, but also made remarkable contributions that have made the Church and her leaders better informed on the ongoing electoral process in the country.
2. The Church and an Enduring Democratic Process in Nigeria
The House of Bishops strongly believes that the feeling in certain quarters that Nigerians by nature are incapable of doing things right is not only false but also unfounded. It however identifies the problem as having to do with the wrong mindset, which people have built over the years. To conduct a credible election in Nigeria come 2007 is not only possible but also feasible.
Conscious of the fact that a new political culture is germane to the emergence of the new Nigeria of our dream, the Church therefore commits itself irrevocably to partner with all relevant electoral agencies or bodies to ensure a successful general elections in Nigeria not only in 2007 but also in subsequent elections. While regretting her political aloofness and inertia, the Church believes that the need to wrest politics out from the hands of hawks and predators into those of godly and patriotic Nigerians is urgent, imperative and compelling. It (the Church) therefore commits itself to the following programmes of action:
Aggressive Electoral Education Programme
Part of the mandate of the Church is teaching. She is to teach all things necessary for the growth and development of the human society towards the path of godliness and righteousness. To this end, every Ecclesiastical Province and Diocese in the Church of Nigeria should carefully study all the relevant electoral laws and acts and endeavour to explain same to the electorate as a way of getting them well informed enough to be able to resist the manipulations of wicked politicians. Political Education is to become part and parcel of the Church’s mission and ministry.
Awareness Campaign
Every bishop is enjoined within his Diocese to identify, persuade and encourage men and women of integrity and good Christian virtues to present themselves for elective positions and/or offices. It believes that only when such people get interested and involved will our society be on the path of recovery and rectitude. It should be made clear to people that shying away from active politics is both an anti social behaviour and an ungodly act.
Mobilization and Sensitization of the Electorate
It is the duty of every bishop to mobilize, sensitize and conscientize all eligible voters to endeavour to be card carrying members of any political party of their choice. Again every true Nigerian Christians should see it as a duty to participate fully in the forthcoming revision of voters Register so as to take active part in the process that will lead to the emergence of God-fearing leaders at all levels in our country next year.
The Youth and Electoral Violence
Every diocese in the Church of Nigeria should organize an awareness seminar for the youths on the need of resisting the temptation of mortgaging their future in the hands of wicked politicians for a plate of portage. The dangers of offering themselves as political thugs for doing odd jobs should be highlighted to prevent them from being willing tools in the hands of mischief makers.
Election Monitoring Groups
The problem with the electoral process in Nigeria also include the fact that in most cases the election results do not reflect the actual voting pattern. The need therefore to protect the peoples votes becomes absolutely necessary. It shall therefore be established in every diocese, Ecclesiastical Province, and the National Church, election monitoring groups that will make available to the Church the true voting pattern so as to ensure that the results eventually declared represent the wishes of the people of this country.
Discipline of Errant Politicians
The Church shall henceforth rediscover, dust and exercise fully her instrument of discipline and use it strongly on any member of the Church, no matter how highly placed, who as a politician, engages in or encourages thuggery, and or any form of electoral violence or malpractice or whose conduct in the political arena did not befit a Christian.
The Church is eternally committed to its time-honoured prophetic ministry that declares the whole mind of God fearlessly and uncompromisingly so that the people of this nation shall know the truth that sets free. Our prayer for the nation, her leaders and people shall be intensified so that the year 2007 will indeed be to us all an acceptable year of the Lord towards a better Nigerian nation.
May God bless us all.
+Peter Akinola
(Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria).
MESSAGE TO THE NATION
INTRODUCTION
The Bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) met in a seminar on Political Awareness in the country on the 13th day of September, 2006 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s Diobu, Port Harcourt in the Diocese of Niger Delta North. After a very deep prayerful exposition and exhaustive deliberation on the current political process, as well as the security demands, mobilization and laws towards a successful general elections in the country next year, issues the following statements:
Commendation
The House of Bishops highly commends the leadership of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) for putting in place such an educative, informative and brainstorming seminar for the house of bishops at this crucial stage of our national history and development. It also places on record, the contributions of our Resource Persons: Prof. Maurice M. Iwu, chairman Independent Electoral Commission, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Faruk, Director General, National Orientation Agency and Hon. Austin Opara, Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, towards the success of the seminar. The first three personalities not only attended in persons, but also made remarkable contributions that have made the Church and her leaders better informed on the ongoing electoral process in the country.
INEC and 2007 General Elections
The Church of Nigeria admires with great enthusiasm, the zeal, commitment and determination of the Independent National electoral Commission to conduct a very credible election in the country come 2007. It however notes with sadness that since independence, the electoral process in Nigeria has been characterized by massive rigging, political violence and thuggery, politics of bitterness and imposition of candidates among others. It also decries the fact that party politics has, most of the time, not been issue-based, but driven by primordial sentiments and quest for political power and public office, not as a means of bringing about development, but as vehicles of personal aggrandizement and disbursement of patronages to supporters and cronies. Synod enjoins INEC to be resolute and steadfast in its determination to make the forthcoming general elections a watershed for an enduring democratic culture in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Police and the Democratic Electoral Process
The House of Bishops underscores the crucial but central role of the Nigerian Police in ensuring the success of the democratic electoral process in this country. It is however inconsolably worried that the Nigerian Police is not only ill-equipped, but also poorly motivated for their job. That the Nigerian Police has no functional aircraft for effective surveillance and monitoring, coupled with the fact that armed robbers and social miscreants have stronger fire-power is not only a threat, but posses a real danger to the maintenance of peace, order, security and good governance in this country. It therefore calls on the Federal Government to take urgent steps at repositioning the Nigerian Police for effective discharge of their constitutional obligations by ensuring not only the provision of modern security gadgets and apparatus, but also an improved welfare package that will adequately motivate them for their very delicate job.
The Federal Government and the Success of the 2007 General Elections
The Bishops note with satisfaction that the present government of the Federation is leaving no stone unturned in an effort to engender a true democratic culture that will ensure the realization of the dreams of our founding fathers at independence. Worthy of special mention are the various legislations being put in place to ensure free and fair elections, setting of limits for election expenses by various candidates from the office of the President to Ward Councilors, and the unrelenting war against corruption in the country. It urges Mr. President and his team to remain resolute until Nigeria truly becomes the motherland of our dream.
Politics Without Bitterness
The House of Bishops reminds Nigerians that politics is about sharing of ideas. It is therefore very wrong and ungodly to allow bitterness and acrimony to rise to the level of contemplating, planning and actual assassination of perceived political opponents. It reminds our brothers and sisters in partisan politics of the truism that “whatever a man sows, that he will reap” and warns those who see politics as a do or die affair to save the successive generations of their families from the curse that goes with the shedding of innocent blood.
May God bless us all.
+Peter Akinola
(Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria).
