By Umar Shehu
The recently assented to, “Not too young to rule bill” by President Muhammed Buhari may face some challenges in its execution because ” Nigeria’s politics is driven by personalities and money”.
Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of Anglican church in Nigeria at the opening of the Standing Committee meeting holding at the St Peters’ Cathedral Church, Diocese of Minna, Niger state on Wednesday.
According to the cleric, “The Nigeria brand of politics has over the years not been on ideas and ideals; rather it has been driven by personality and money”.
Nigeria is rather stagnated by diverse personal interest rather collective interest of the generality of citizenry, adding that, “Ethnic and religious biases have also played roles”.
Reverend Okoh in an address to the Commiittee however pleaded with the youths and the young people “not to be discouraged but join in the struggle and look forward to the future with hope”.
As the 2019 general elections drew near, Okoh challenged politicians to make achieving the peace and unity among the diverse ethnic groups in Nigeria their principal primary objective.
He said, “In whatever we do, the peace of the nation must be preserved because in a war situation, everybody will be affected”.
Okoh also asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to, “work harder to make all the processes and eventual elections as smooth as possible, and to remain an unbiased umpire in this race to determine Nigeria’s destiny’s.
“Whatever will disenfranchise any Nigerian should not come from INEC and should be avoided by all” he said before asking Christians to ” ensure they vote, but to strive for elective positions to be voted for”.
On the level of insecurity in the country, Most Reverend Okoh regretted that “terrorists are being more daring by the day” adding that the herdsmen had gone haywire operating from east to west north and south, fear now reigns supreme in the land as a result with the nations security not appearing to be the solution”.
The Anglican Primate also asked the federal government “never to forget the remaining Chibok girls and Leah Shaibu who are still in Bokoharam captivity” saying ” in the interest of democracy freedom of religion and national cohesion sufficient effort should be made to bring their ordeal and that of their patents and families to an end”.
The clergy man said he was optimistic that despite efforts of the enemies of Christianity and Nigeria in general, the country would not collapse but come out stronger.
The Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo is being expected later in the day to declare the conference with the theme, ” God. Our Refuge and strength,” open.