2011 polls will be peaceful, says cleric

THE Bishop of Jos Catholic Archdiocese, Dr. Ignatius Kaigama, has said that despite some political clashes by opposing parties in parts of the country, the planned general elections would be peaceful.

According to Kaigama, going by the commitment of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, as well as the determination of most Nigerians, the polls would be a success.

The bishop said: “Despite all these political clashes, we are very optimistic because we have been promised by the president of our country that the elections would be one with a difference.

“The chairman of the electoral body has also repeatedly promised that the elections would be one with a difference and we have to believe him.”

The bishop, who commended Nigerians for their relentless prayers, recalled that in the past, people had no confidence in going out to vote because most times, their votes did not count. He said he hope it will be different now.

“This time around, we are told one-man, one-vote, and all that. So, it means that there is something good in the offing. By these pronouncements, we are hoping that despite the pockets of crises and attacks here and there by political thugs, the general mood of the nation is that a wonderful and credible election that would make us proud and be admired by the international community is coming.”

The cleric, however, said: “This does not mean that we should not be well-prepared. I urge those concerned – from the security agents to the electoral officers; all those involved in anything that directly or indirectly has to do with the election, to perform their duties with the fear of God in such a way that we will come out clean this time.”

He charged the electorate not to sell their voters’ cards or lose them, and come out en mass to vote for the candidates of their choice.

Kaigama called for adequate security at the polling units to protect voters during the elections, just as he challenged political leaders to address the prevailing problems of unemployment, poor health care delivery, epileptic power supply, poverty and insecurity through equitable and just distribution of the country’s resources.

Kaigama was in Bauchi to introduce the newly appointed Bishop of Bauchi Diocese, Monsignor Malachy John, to the priests, the Catholic community and laity of Bauchi Diocese.

Monsignor John is to be installed as Bishop of Bauchi Catholic Diocese on May 18, 2011. He is succeeding the late Bishop John Moore, who died in 2009.