The General Secretary, Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), Pastor Samuel Sanusi has charged Nigerians not to make previous mistakes of only voting for candidates during the 2023 coming election, but ensure they pick credible individuals that will deliver Nigeria from all its predicaments and give her a new beginning.

Sanusi made the appeal at Williams Memorial Methodist Church, Ago-Ijaye, Ebute-Metta, Lagos where this year 5-day Marathon Bible Reading was declared open.

He said: “Nigerians are advised to be wary of politicians who offer them money to be voted for and as soon as they get the power, their pursuit has always been to recoup the money they have spent in the name of doing good.

“They completely abandon their manifestos and all the promises made during campaign and focus on themselves and their families.

“Nigerians ought to have learnt their lessons and henceforth vote for integrity, a change and a better Nigeria,” he said.

He said that as the Marathon Bible reading for this year commences from September 5, at 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily in 93 different centres across Lagos State to end on Friday, September 9, 2022, Nigerians should take advantage of the three-fold joy that come along with the reading, which include the joy of reading the Bible in their preferred languages, helping someone else to hear the Word of God in a new way and having fellowship with others in the continuous reading of the Bible.

He announced that participation is free and participants within the five days programme in the past had the privilege of reading the entire Bible at their various centres within the five days allotted for the event.

He also disclosed that the programme will hold simultaneously in 117 additional centres in 18 other states in the country which include Nasarawa, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Taraba, Kogi, Kwara, Ogbomosho, Imo, Edo, Abia and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

He urged Nigerians not to undermine the benefits of reading the Bible which has the power to transform lives with participants receiving healing while reading.

Presbyter and minister in charge of Williams Methodist Church, Very Rev. Adebayo Adewuyi commended BSN for the programme which he said will encourage many people.

He also called on Nigerians from age 18 and above, to get their PVC ready and vote in credible candidates that would move the nation forward.