Why Nigerians must be serious about 2019 polls, by Umahi
GOVERNOR David Umahi of Ebony State has urged Christians in the state to be politically active in the election process of their leaders.
Speaking in Abakaliki during the flagging off of the multi million-naira 500 meters Christ Embassy Church Road, the governor commended the church for playing a significant role in his administration.
Umahi who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Road Maintenance, Chief Ali Odefa advised the church to stop singing praises of leaders or castigate his administration but should rather continue to play spiritual and moral role through persistent prayers and advocacy. He also reminded the church to actively participate in determining who governs them through the use of their Permanent Voters Card (PVC).
According to him, “Before I embarked on the ambition to rule Ebonyi, my first inspiration, mandate and commitment with God, was to ensure a better livelihood for citizens of the state, especially children and widows and to also to also ensure that Christians benefit from my administration.”
The governor further harped on the need for Christians, including religious leaders not to allow wicked politicians with selfish interest to seize power and return Ebonyi to where it was in the past.
The governor disclosed that similar scenario, which played out during the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan when some people used blackmail and propaganda to remove him (Jonathan) from office is currently being hatched by some politicians in Ebonyi. He stressed: “The peo- ple must use their PVCS to ensure that enemies of the state do not get close to the government house.”
According to him, “In 2019, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will not count on your best wishes and comment about our government. What it will count is your votes. If you are here and you have not gotten your voters card, you are not doing us any good. What you have to do is get your voters card so that in 2019 you will come out and appreci- ate us by your votes.
“I have mandated my SSA to go round the churches in the state to identify roads that leads to churches which are bad. We want to rehabilitate all roads that lead to churches, so that worshippers could travel with ease to their places of worship.
He added that the country is in the present state because Nigerians do no not take voting seriously, saying, “If you make it a matter of must to vote in 2019 credible and committed leaders will emerge. When you vote in right people, you will be happy.
It would be recalled that the agency had already flagged off the construction of the road leading to the residence of late Dr. Akanu Ibiam in Uwana community in Afikpo North Local Government area and the road leading to All Saints Anglican Communion Cathedral in Abakaliki that was abandoned by previous governments.