…Resist inducement – Okoh charges voters
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has urged Nigerians to be optimistic about the 2023 general elections, saying that the elections would usher in a new Nigeria where justice and equity will prevail.
Vice President Osinbajo spoke on Sunday at the 62nd Independent anniversary service held at National Christian Centre Abuja.
He said Nigerians may be facing many challenges presently but affirmed that the coming election would usher in a nation of law, prosperity and equity and lots of opportunities for the citizenry.
His words:’’ We are celebrating Nigerian people wherever they are. Nigeria will be more fruitful and a blessed nation, Nigeria will be better, greater and stronger day by day, and Nigeria will be more peaceful.
The future of Nigeria will be far more glorious, more prosperous and peaceful than her past. We stand at the gate of a new nation and we see its light shining brightly, the nation of God’s promises, a nation of opportunities, equity and justice, a secured and prosperous nation, a nation of laws and righteousness even if what we see today is bleak and dark, we are confident that God will fulfil his promises concerning this great nation not a word will fail regarding every good thing The Lord has spoken concerning this nation, all will come to pass. Every day God’s promises will be renewed in your life.’’
Earlier, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, who spoke on the theme: ‘’The Righteousness Shall Inherit the Land’’, said 2023 presents a unique opportunity for the Nigerian people to make the right choice of leadership.
He charged the electorates to resist any form of inducement and vote for the right leadership that would serve the interest of the people.
‘’Brethren, the year 2023 is the year of our test as a nation. Rather than take up arms to kill each other and terrify innocent Nigerians, adults in this nation should take up our voters’ cards and go to the polls. Those who already have their valid voter’s card should ensure that they don’t misplace it or expose it to where it could be stolen or destroyed. Those who have registered and have not received their PVCs should endeavour to get them and keep them.
‘’Let me counsel that we must resist any threat (strong or subtle) in whichever form to stop us from going out to vote on the day of elections. We should have learnt our lessons to know that politicians who presented some inducement to voters, especially on the polling day were not really interested in the welfare of the people because they disappeared and made themselves unreachable and unavailable to those who elected them after they had been elected.‘’ We should look out for politicians who are genuine and who are sincere to provide the basics that will be the catalyst for economic growth and development. I do not believe that all Nigerian politicians are the same – there are still those that God had prepared for this time.
‘’Open your eyes and listen, you will find them. Our hardworking Nigerian youth should not reduce themselves to body shields to those politicians that have no interest in their future neither should they allow themselves to be used as pawns on the chessboard of reckless political game.
‘’Let the youth realise that their life is too precious to be wasted or sacrificed for any individual or group. The Youth should not allow certain unscrupulous persons to use them to destroy their own future.’’
On the lingering ASUU strike, the CAN President called on the Federal government to do all that is necessary so that most of the youths will go back to the universities and be engaged with their studies.
‘’Let us be guided by Proverbs 16:27 (The Living Bible version) which says that “idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece”I urge all Nigerians to give the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) all the support to enable it to succeed in its assignment.’’
VANGUARD
