By Phil Okose Onitsha
As the Anambra state gubernatorial election gathers momentum, the Anglican Bishop on the Niger, the Right Rev. Dr. Owen Nwokolo, has
warned electorate in the state to look before they leap to avoid electing a criminal candidate that would at the end of the day disappoint the people that voted him into power.
Sounding the note of warning as part of his new year message to the people, the Bishop recalled that Nigerians were confronted with so many challenges in the previous years caused by bad political leadership adding that people should embark on fervent prayers to avoid repeat of the ugly experience.
“2021 is election year in Anambra state, all eyes are on the state as the light of the nation, the prime state, to know how the election will go. Money will flow, last election there was money, people were
bought over with money to vote anybody and we don’t pray for such this year”
“We want people to register as voters and vote according to their conscience and we encourage voters not to be manipulated by anybody. Look for people who have genuine manifestoes and ask them questions and if convinced vote for them”
He warned of religious bigotry adding that people should not vote because of religious affiliation.
“Don’t vote because this person is from your church, this religious mentality is ravaging Anambra state. You vote him because he is a member of your church, you don’t care if he is knowledgable, if he is a crook, if he has managed anything before, you just say he is from my church and he will enter there, mess up the whole thing and you return to square one”
“We also appeal to politicians to do their campaigns peacefully, don’t run another person down because you want people to vote for you.
Marshal out your point and defend your manifesto and be mindful of what you say.
Youths should not allow themselves to be used because they will use you as thugs and dump you and you will ruin your future”
On the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC he said, “let us have free and fair election, service your machines, put them in order and be unbiased”
The Bishop further advised the security operatives especially the police not to collect bribe but allow the people’s vote to count.
