Let your votes determine your destiny, cleric urges Nigerians

For Nigerians to overcome poverty and have a better life, they must determine their own destinies by voting their conscience in the February 16, 2019 presidential election.

General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Reverend Felix Meduoye, who proclaimed 2019 a year of peace for the Church and country, gave the charge during a media briefing on the state of the nation at the Church headquarters in Lagos.

Focusing on infrastructure deficit, insecurity, challenge of leadership and the economy, he restated that the country was presently going through trying times, adding: “There is apprehension in the land as a result of the political, social and economic issues in Nigeria.

“Political leadership has failed the nation and this is evident in all levels-judiciary, legislature and executive. The failure of leaders to provide the needed direction has left the country comatose, as the nation’s human and material resources have not been well harnessed for development.”

He lamented that in spite of the nation’s huge economic potential considering its population advantage, its economy was still tottering as industrialisation has suffered fatally with low capacity utilisation, unemployment, underemployment and incessant strikes.

“Hunger and poverty are fanning embers of anger, frustration and disappointments in many quarters and Nigerians are becoming increasingly intolerant of one another. These negative features should be of great concern to all of us,” he stated.

He added that due to the parlous state of the country’s socio-economic milieu, Nigerians should use the forthcoming general elections to determine their destinies and future by voting for the right candidates in a non-violent, free and fair manner.

Meduoye, who spoke in company of other members of the Church council, stressed that Nigeria is blessed with abundant resources, but the blessings have been grossly underutilised because of leadership failure.

“The forthcoming elections offer us another opportunity to determine the destiny of this country through active participation in the electoral process. Nigeria needs intervention and complete turnaround.

“As we go into the elections, our focus should be on critical areas such as security, economy, infrastructure, education, youths’ empowerment and crusade against corruption, among others and how these will be effectively tackled and fixed to ensure our collective growth and development,” he said.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be unbiased, non-partisan and uncompromising in executing its responsibilities, adding they must allow fairness, fear of God and accountability to guide their conducts.

The General Overseer also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to do everything possible to ensure that the elections are credible, free and fair, insisting that if Nigerians have any reason to doubt the credibility of the polls, it will cost the country a huge trauma.