From Abiola Alo, Ado Ekiti
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The Diocese of Ekiti West, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has urged Nigerians to stop engaging in the act of votes buying and selling as the 2019 general elections draw nearer.
It also warned politicians against making unrealistic promises to the electorates, saying such have dampened the interest of Nigerians in the electoral system, politics and governance in the country.
The church which noted that the practice of vote buying was fast gaining ground in the country said it was “aimed at stifling people from making free choice of their candidates.”
The resolutions among others, were in the communiqué issued at the church’s First Session of the 7th Synod presided over by the Bishop of the Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Rufus Ajileye Adepoju.
The four-day synod which held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Idagba, Efon Alaaye, with the theme: “Be Ye Steadfast” taken from 1 Corinthians 15:58 ended on Saturday.
According to the communiqué issued at the end of the synod, the church said “vote buying can end up giving a bad candidate with loads of funds an undeserved edge to the detriment of the people at the long run.”
It admonished eligible Nigerians who are of age to ensure that they register with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in order to be able to perform their civic responsibility of voting at national elections to bring credible people into political offices.
It reads: “The Synod admonished some of our politicians who were in the habit of making empty promises to desist from such practices, which only heighten people’s expectations only to disappointed at last. This practice contributes to be people’s disaffection for people in governance and politics.
“Synod appealed to Government at both State and National levels to promptly pay salary and pension arrears to serving workers and pensioners.
“The non-payment of these deserved salaries and pension has brought untold hardship to families, especially those who the husband and wife are civil servants.
“Synod was deeply concerned with the prevailing scourge of political and religious motivated killings, kidnapping and other anti-social behaviours.”
