2023: Religious leaders in Gombe caution members against endorsing political parties, candidates
Religious leaders in Gombe State have urged their colleagues to resist the temptation of endorsing political parties or candidates ahead of the 2023 elections.
They stated this in separate interviews with newsmen in Gombe on Thursday on the sideline of a one-day peace dialogue for stakeholders ahead of the 2023 elections.
Rev Abare Kalla, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Northeast cautioned members and other religious stakeholders against making unguarded utterances that could threaten peaceful coexistence in the state.
Kalla said peaceful coexistence going into the election was key to having credible polls in the state and country, hence appealed to his members to desist from making any political statements capable of inciting their followers.
“Actually, those kinds of statements (hate speeches) from religious and political leaders are uncalled for.
“It’s a breach of peace and we call on political and religious leaders to desist from such statements that can cause violence, loss of lives and properties.
“I will also want to encourage that religious leaders should not be partisans when it comes to the issue of politics
“Because as religious leaders in our churches, we have different political parties and the religious leader is the pastor of all parties.
“So he should not come out supporting a particular party or endorse a particular group for as a father of all, you are supposed to nurture all the parties.
“Not coming to say vote this or that party, I endorse this, that is not good.
“ I am saying that pastors should desist from endorsing people or parties. It’s not good. It’s not right because God is for all and we are God’s representatives and so, therefore, be for all,” he said.
Kalla who was represented by Rev Jim Amos, CAN chairman, Gombe State also appealed that prioritising politics more than peace was “totally unacceptable because it destroys religion, unity, community and family. “
Dalhatu Tukur, the Chief Imam of Dawaki Mosque who represented the Council of Ulamas in Gombe said the prevailing peace in Gombe State was the reason for the population growth and business boom in the state.
Tukur said because of the importance of peace, it was important for all stakeholders to ensure that their acts and words do not cause violence especially going into elections.
He said it was not right for religious leaders to interfere with the political choices of their followers.
“Islam taught us to explain the quality of good leaders and not to choose. It is mandatory of us to tell the people the right attributes and characters of leaders.
” Interfering with the choices of followers can create problems and disharmony; allow the voters to think deeply and choose his or her leader.”
The chief imam urged residents of the state to preach peace and work for peaceful elections in the state.
He appealed to Islamic preachers not to allow selfish interests interfere with their religious duties so as not to deceive their followers.
On his part, Mr Oqua Etim, the Commissioner of Police, Gombe State Command said all arrangements had been made to ensure a peaceful elections in the state.
Etim who was represented by ASP Suleiman Nasiru appealed to the residents to eschew violence and report suspicious attempts to breach peace before, during and after the elections.
On his part, Hussaini Abdullahi, State Organiser of the programme and fellow of Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP) said the programme was important in view of the need to sustain the prevailing peace in the state.
Abdullahi appealed to all stakeholders to support the peacebuilding and enhancement project in their community to ensure that the violence that often comes with elections was averted in 2023.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was organised by COFP in collaboration with Wildan Care Foundation.
The theme of the programme is “Promoting Inter-Religious Peace and Tolerance in the forthcoming 2023 General Elections in Gombe State.”
