BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – The Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna Diocese, Most Reverend Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, has tasked Nigerians to support candidates with impeccable character and unquestionable values for the country’s religious and cultural differences.
This is as he pleaded with the Federal and Kaduna State governments to step up efforts at ensuring the release of some Catholic Priests currently in the kidnappers’ den and frontally tackling the insecurity bedevilling the country.
Particularly warning Nigerians against voting for candidates whose outlooks are skewed and toxic, Archbishop Ndagoso said; “Nigeria is a very diverse country. We all come from different cultural and religious backgrounds and our diversity is not a curse but a blessing from God.”
Speaking with journalists at the celebration of the ‘Christ The King’ by the Catholic faithful in Kaduna, the Catholic Priest said the country is in dire need of leaders that can effectively manage “our diversity very well. Therefore if our cultural and religious backgrounds should be properly managed, it will enrich our country”.
He said given the numerous challenges facing the country today, only leaders capable of managing both the people’s religious and cultural differences to give everyone a sense of belonging should be supported for electoral victory
According to him; “We have leaders who don’t value our cultural and religious differences and that is why there is agitation for self-determination. Our leaders are so nepotistic. What we have gone through for the past seven years in this country is unimaginable. We have never suffered in this country the way we are suffering in the last 7 years. We have leaders who are not able to manage our diversity very well, they are so nepotistic.
“The damage they have done to this country, I don’t know how many years it will take to fix it. If any candidate or political party dismisses other people’s sensitivity, I think they are sending a message to them.
“Any candidate who does not care about our religious sensitivity, why should we vote the person into power? It is a waste of votes. Anybody who aspires to lead this country must give every Nigerian a sense of belonging and what is happening now is not giving every Nigerian a sense of belonging”.
While lamenting the biting economic hardship in the country today, the Catholic Archbishop, noted that many Nigerians barely eat two square meals a day, stressing that things cannot only change for the better when the citizens take responsibility for voting right come the 2023 general elections.
