At CON’s Standing Committee, Buhari optimistic of God’s intervention in 2023 general elections

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) to continue to make intercession for the nation, saying that Nigeria’s leadership needs God’s intervention to pilot the affairs of the nation.

Buhari disclosed this at the 2022 Second Standing Committee of the Church with the theme: “Your Kingdom Come; Your Will Be Done,” held at St. Matthias House, Gudu District, Abuja.

The president who was represented at the event by the Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr. Sunday Akin Dare, commended the head of the church, Primate Henry Ndukuba for his exceptional leadership and successfully hosting the Committee.

Buhari, who promised to continue to support the Church, especially in ensuring freedom of worship, was optimistic that God’s will for the country will be done in the forthcoming general elections in 2023.

Delivering his goodwill message, former Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, said that the nation is at the peak of political manoeuvrings. According to him, “different people are gathering to outsmart others to grab power. If they succeed and are the right people, the nation will be blessed. But if they are the wrong people, the nation will be doomed.”

Admonishing the church to rise up to the challenge of properly guiding the people in specific terms to vote in the coming elections, Okoh said that the Bishops and Church leaders should resist the temptation of being lured by those who are desperate for powers, noting that they obviously want to serve themselves and not the people or God.

In his address, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Dan. Okoh, described the Church of Nigeria as one Church that has made a great impact on the socio-economic development of the nation and a strong voice in the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN).

Okoh, who was represented by Bishop Mike Akpan, urged the Church to continue to stand up in righteousness and pray for the nation, which at this time, is passing through a lot of security challenges, noting that the theme of the Standing Committee is apt.

Okoh said: “When the Kingdom of God comes, His will be done, and we will live in peace.”

Also, Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, has condemned the insensitivity and display of impunity by political leaders, especially the two prominent big parties in the country.

Ndukuba reiterated his earlier position on the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC and frowned at it, saying if imposed on the nation will yield to religious and social discrimination.

While calling for a change in the electoral pattern in the nation, the primate said: “The big parties have taken the citizens for granted. There are other viable alternatives if proper and sincere negotiations are done. Citizens’ political action and engagement will deliver this country from this political ineptitude.

He added: “As it is commonly said, ‘your vote is your right,’ we encourage all Nigerian electorate to come out en-masse and vote for the right candidates. Vote for leaders and not rulers, vote for integrity and character, vote for those who have records of godly leadership and concern for the ordinary citizens of this country. Vote for persons and not parties. Any politician who has been insensitive to the plight and sufferings, oppression and death of the ordinary Nigerian must not be voted to lead this nation. Enough is enough. We desire a new Nigeria where every part of the political process to birth a new Nigeria.”

The former Archbishop of Bendel, Most Rev. (Dr.) Friday Imaekhai who led the Bible Studies during the services of the Standing Committee, regretted that there has been a gross deterioration and dilapidation in the morality and value of the society as most of the things that used to be considered evil, appalling, shameful and disgraceful are now taken to be fashionable, and acceptable with impunity and flagrant disobedience to rules and decency today.

The event featured a special memorial service in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II of England by the British Commission in Nigeria at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp Abuja on September 15, 2022.

Meanwhile, the next Standing Committee will hold in February 2023 at the Diocese of Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory (F.C.T). Abuja.

Dignitaries that graced the occasion included Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of Nigeria and their wives, clergy and lay delegates from all Dioceses and Mission areas of the Church; Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

Others are the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi; President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Dan. Okoh, who was represented by Bishop Mike Akpan; Rear Admiral Segun Adebari and Prof. John Kennedy Opara.