By Oludamisi Ojo,Akure.
As the 2023 general elections and some states governorship in 2022 draws near, Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclestiastical Province have advised the electorate to entrust with leadership only those that have proven integrity and who can work tirelessly for the growth of democracy.
Besides, the Bishops expressed dismay at the startling revelations made by the federal government about missing firearms from the Nigeria Police armory.
The Catholic Clerics spoke in a communique issued after its meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital, on Wednesday, discussing topical issues affecting the nation.
The communique signed by the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Reverend Felix Ajakaye, and made available to reporters in Ado Ekiti on Thursday urged the electorate to be committed to a better Nigeria with their votes.
According to the communique: “It is obvious that there is a pervasive longing for a better Nigeria. With the time for national elections already on the horizon, we wish to urge all Nigerians to work more assiduously to be able to vote for quality leaders which Nigeria urgently needs at this period.
“It is our desire that pro-democracy groups within and outside the church kindly help to educate and motivate our people for their civic duties. We urge that only leaders with positive values like proven integrity, truthfulness, trustworthiness and fear of God should be elected as our leaders when the time comes.
The Catholic Bishops said as leaders of the Church,” we remain non-partisan, but we strongly advocate and endorse any candidate who professes and embodies positive values that can help our nation to develop strong and functional institutions as a framework for true democracy in our country”.
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They described as a huge relief, President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent listing of killer bandits as terrorists, saying the band of murderers and arsonists causing mayhem all over the country must be wiped out.
The Bishops urged the security agencies, including the complementary outfits, to sustain their great work of securing the nation and implore the authorities to adequately support them
The Bishops decried the increasing drug addiction, armed robbery, rape, truancy, and other crimes in the country, describing these as products of a depressed and decayed system of education in the nation.
They urged the government at all levels to adequately fund education, paying just and commensurate wages and remunerations as well as providing necessary facilities for educational programmes.
