2023: Vote leaders ready to pursue peaceful coexistence, says Group
Christian Empowerment Forum (CEF), an NGO, has advised Nigerians to vote leaders who are ready to ensure peaceful coexistence across the country in the 2023 general election.
Mr Ifunanya Ogbonnaya, the Executive Director of the group, gave the advice during an interview on Wednesday in Abuja.
Ogbonnaya said that Nigerians had the power to ensure peace and unity in the country if they vote wisely at the forth-coming general elections.
He said that the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) gave Nigerians the power as electorate to insure their future and those of the next generation.
"With our PVC,whatever we decide to do with it come 2023 is what heaven would also do for us, so we must be wise and choose wisely.
"If we vote again with emotions and sentiments, we would also be responsible for the outcome of our votes.
"However, if we weigh all options and vote wisely, and ensure that our votes are counted and that our votes count, we would also enjoy the outcome of our votes.
"We must listen and watch carefully for the party or aspirant whose core interest is centered around peaceful coexistence and unity, amongst other positive goals.
"Without peaceful coexistence and unity across the country, there would be no tangible growth or development," he said.
He said whoever would be voted for at all levels, including the federal, state and Local government levels, and whatever party should be chosen properly.
"We must first ascertain if they have a mandate to instill peace and unity, amongst all other benefits and dividends of good governance and democracy," he said.
He urged Nigerians to begin to carry out due diligence ahead of 2023, to underscore every political party manifesto and individual aspirant's manifesto.
Ogbonnaya said that due diligence is pertinent to underscore all aspirants to know more about their core principles, values and norms.
"The lifestyle of these politicians needs to be underscored, those who are power drunken, those who are autocratic by nature, those who promote religious bigotry and incite ethnic or religious war.
"We need to study them now and carry out an opinion poll where the public would have an input and the outcome would be disseminated ahead of campaigns, so the average man knows who to vote or not to vote for.
"Civil societies and other electioneering umpires should begin to dig deep to expose bank status, corruption status or credence and past history of violence or participation to inciting violence.
"All this are what we all have to do before they begin their party screening and primaries and campaigns, anyone who already has a dent to his or her image would be unfit to run for office according to opinion polls," Ogbonnaya said.
He, however, called for prayer ahead of 2023, adding that the entire election and its outcome is already in Gods hands.
He said that all Nigerians need to do was to amend their ways morally and spiritually and the country would experience a positive turn around.
He advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to give strict rules to political parties and aspirants against inciting violence before, during and after the election.
According to Ogbonnaya, any politician or political party that threatens to cause problems or incite violence in the country if he or she do not win in an election, such party or candidate should not be on the ballot.
