Ahead of the forth-coming general elections billed for this weekend, Christian clerics under the aegis of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), have directed Christians in the country to go on a three-day fasting and prayer this week.
This directive, the Catholic bishops say, is to ensure the country averts crises, remains united and peaceful during and after the elections as they urged Nigerians to do all within their powers to achieve this.
This was revealed in a press statement jointly signed by the CBCN President, Archbishop Augustine Akubeze and CBCN Secretary Bishop Camillus Umoh and issued to journalists over the weekend.
The Bishops, according to the statement said: “The general elections are by the corner. Expectedly, there is a lot of anxiety. These elections should therefore be for us a time for sober reflection on our future as a people.
“We should further reflect on how to keep our country and our people united and peaceful. With the resources available to us as a country, we can achieve this. The world is looking up to us and expecting much from us.
“We appeal to the Security Agencies and INEC to rise up to their duties and responsibilities to ensure that we have peaceful, free, fair and credible elections.
“We nevertheless reiterate that the primary responsibility for this lies with the government. We urge the relevant bodies to put our nation before any other consideration.
“We appeal to the people to put cynicism aside and go out to cast their votes on election day, guided by their conscience. We must therefore think very carefully, because electing our leaders comes with moral obligations and responsibilities
“We invite our fellow countrymen and women to turn to God in these trying times. Let us continue in prayer for those who are in politics, especially those of them who are seeking elective positions.
“And to those our brothers and sisters either already in office or seeking to be elected, we say, be effective witnesses to TRUTH and LIGHT for the common good otherwise we invite you to bow out.
“Conscious of the power of prayers in times like these, we therefore direct all Catholics to fast and pray for three days; 13-15 February 2019.”
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