Ahead of this Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly Elections, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, has enjoined all Nigerians to embrace peace and shun all forms of violence and thuggery that may disrupt the peaceful conduct of the exercise.
In a release signed by the Director of Social Communications, Msgr. Gabriel Osu, Archbishop Martins, while calling on all eligible voters to come out en-mass and exercise their franchise, appealed to the contending parties and their supporters to cooperate with and allow INEC officials to conduct a free and fair election so as not to jeopardize the future well-being of the country.
According to him, no single human life can be equated with the political ambition of all the contestants; hence, every effort must be put in place by the law enforcement agencies to forestall violence by ensuring that the wishes of the electorates prevail at the end of the day.
He appealed to Security Agencies to be impartial in carrying out their duties. If after all the discursion concerning the deployment of soldiers, the soldiers are deployed, they must ensure that they do not justify all the fears that people have concerning intimidation of voters and any other conduct that would jeopardise the integrity of the elections. The whole world is watching and waiting for how we carry out this exercise.
“This particular election is very important and significant for the future of our nation. We must go out and vote for the right candidates. Vote for candidates with integrity, fear of God and the requisite competence to lead us aright.”
Archbishop Martins, while enjoining on all to pray for peace, unity and progress in Nigeria, also prayed that God would grant the country credible leaders, and direct everyone concerned to make this election free and fair.
