“EVERY VOTE MUST COUNT IN 2011” - CATHOLIC BISHOPS

As Nigerians prepare to go to polls in 2011 to elect their leaders, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has called on the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that there is a credible, fair and transparent electoral process, which should begin with a good voters' registration exercise that accredits all eligible voters and must ensure that every vote is counted and that every vote counts.
This call was made in a special message from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria on the occasion of Nigeria's golden Jubilee celebration tagged “Nigeria at 50: Towards a just and prosperous Nation,” during their second plenary meeting held at Ijebu-ode, from September 11th - 18th, 2010.
In the 10 point special message signed by Archbishop of Ibadan F. Ade Job; President of CBCN and Bishop of Abeokuta Alfred Adewale Martin; Secretary CBCN, the Bishops agreed that free and fair elections should commence at the party primaries so that the best political aspirants might emerge as party candidates for elections, as the 2011 general elections are crucial for the progress and stability of the nation and that democratic dispensation has shown that economic development depends on democratic advancement that derives from a good electoral process.
While calling on all to go beyond tribal, party, religious or gender affiliations and vote with their conscience for only honest, patriotic and selfless people, the Bishops assured that the Church, through the Justice, Development and Peace/Caritas Nigeria, will continue to propagate the Church's social teaching, political literacy, civic education programs and engage in election monitoring.
Also, the Chief Shepherds who thanked God for His fidelity to the nation in preserving the nation despite manifold conflicts and unrests that have punctuated the nation's history, noted that in biblical tradition, jubilee evokes human response to divine favours and also promotes social justice, forgiveness and reconciliation, option for the poor, cancellation of debts, release of prisoners, concerns for the common good, solidarity and peace, while urging that Nigeria's 50th anniversary of independence be marked by deep reflection and profound renewal.
More, the prelates lamented that though God has blessed the nation with abundant resources, it is not been sufficiently developed nor put to the benefits of all instead, “our resources are constantly being dissipated through acts of injustice, bribery and corruption, as a result of which many of our people are hungry, sick, ignorant and defenseless …..”, Condemning the rate of profligacy with which some politicians and public officers fritter away public funds through salaries and allowances for top government officials and members of National Assembly, staggering funds as security votes which are not only unaccounted for but “used for self-fortification and self- perpetuation in power by some leaders of the three tiers of government”. The Bishops tasked all to profoundly undergo a change of heart, while the leaders should have the requisite to govern the people.
On the spate of kidnapping, the Bishops described the act as sinful, wicked and attracts divine wrath, pointing out that the menace inflicts untold truma to the victims, dents the national image and creates an unfavourable climate for economic growth. While sympathizing with the victims of the kidnappers and their relatives, they called on the kidnappers to repent and avert God's wrath, tasked communities to proffer information to expose the evil networks of the kidnappers and the government should proactively fight criminality by ensuring the smooth running of academic institutions and have social welfare packages for the unemployed.
Further, the Chief Shepherds on the issue of security agencies, commended all efforts towards the reform in the police force and other security agencies to weed out corrupt tendencies, advocated for formal and informal training of the security agencies and providing equipment which will enable them to respond rapidly and adequately to new challenges posed in modern times by criminals, especially kidnappers.
Other issues deliberated on in the special message include the liberation of prisoners and need for reform and upgrade of the entire criminal justice system, the need for patriotism among Nigerians; enhanced through an integrated development programme founded on principles of human rights, Common Good, solidarity and subsidiary. Also, the need for a sustainable educational system in which the Bishops reiterated their call for the total return of Catholic Schools and adequate government grant-in-aid to support ongoing efforts in the education of the people.
While thanking God for a dynamic and expanding local Church, the Bishops assured that they will contribute their utmost best in the building of the nation through preaching and apostolate especially the formation of youth. Also, “to intensify catechesis which deepens the fear of God that informs genuine wisdom and progress…….”
More, the Bishops who noted that Nigeria still has difficultly and enormous task ahead in the comity of prosperous nations, urged the nation to turn to God for help as she turns fifty, while imploring Mother Mary to advocate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the leaders and people.