Refusing to vote during elections gives room for manipulation  — Okowa

• Receives Award From Church Of Nigeria At Standing Committee Meeting In River State
The Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has called on Nigerians, particularly Christians, to participate actively in the electoral process, saying such action will help enthrone good governance and credible leadership.

Addressing the Standing Committee Meeting of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) of the All Saints Cathedral, Rumuokwurusi, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, he urged Christians to exercise their right to vote and elect leaders that would govern them.

Speaking on the theme: “The Christian and Responsibility,” the governor noted that it would be uncharitable for any Nigerian to complain of bad governance when they do not participate in the electoral processes.

He said: “Many Nigerians believe that votes do not count, but they are wrong because votes count, and refusing to vote gives room for the bad guys to manipulate the process. Every Bible-believing Christian should go and register to vote in the right people into office.”

Urging Christians to show good examples in their workplaces, Okowa said those who profess faith in Christ must honour and obey earthly governments to ensure law and order and promote good governance.

He enjoined Christians to pay their taxes, saying government needs the money to create new jobs, provide infrastructures, give quality education, check insecurity, among others, adding that God does not excuse Christians from paying taxes.

Okowa, who was conferred with the award: “Courageous and Purposeful Leadership in Challenging Times,” by the Primate of the Anglican Communion, Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, for his people-oriented leadership enjoined religious leaders to be neutral on politics and governance, saying their identification with a party will limit access for them to reach members of the opposite parties with their messages.

Noting the ills of voting on ethnic or sectional lines, the governor said faith-based NGOs must take the lead in the fight for social justice, advocate for right persons to be elected to public offices, and also set agenda for governments at the national, state and local council levels.