Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has disclosed that the Catholic Church won’t direct members to vote for a particular political party.
The cleric disclosed this on Wednesday while delivering a talk entitled: “The Church as an Agent of Dialogue and Reconciliation In Our Community In Quest For a Just and Peaceful Social Order,” at the ongoing First Synod of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo at St. Kizito Pastoral Centre, Ede, Osun State.
Addressing Catholic faithful, Onaiyekan said that every Christian, like other Nigerians, would have to take their own decision on the political party to vote.
He added that the decision of APC to float Muslim-Muslim ticket was the best way it wanted to win election and that Nigerians too had a choice to either vote the party or not.
The Cardinal said: “You will note that the Catholic Bishop Conference has not taken any action on Muslim/Muslim ticket of All Progressives Congress(APC) on this matter.
“The reason is that Muslim/Muslim ticket is a political decision taken by APC as a party on the calculation that it is their best way to win the election or assure their victory in the 2023 general election.
“There is no point telling them not to take such decision, all you can say is that, they will have to accept responsibility for the decision they have taken. I only have one voter’s card and by God’s grace I will use it. I will definitely not vote for Muslim/Muslim ticket, that is my decision.
“But since it is a political decision of a political party, what the church can do officially is bring out this fact and tell people that they should take their political decision accordingly.
“When the APC election leadership appointed Governor of Plateau State, Solomon Lalong as the Director of Campaign of APC who is a Catholic, he took the decision politically.
“The only time when we called him to order was when he dragged the name of the Pope into the appointment and political discussion. He tendered his apology which was accepted by us because he is a member of Papa knight.
“APC is still considered as a legitimate party in Nigeria. Many Catholic are in APC not only as members but hold vital positions. According to our church we not involved in partisan politics.”
The Cardinal urged all religion adherents in the country to live in harmony and give room for dialogue as they demonstrate their faiths.
Also speaking, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, Most Rev John Oyejola, called on Nigerians to maintain religious harmony, live in peace and co-exist in love.
The Grand Imam of Osun State, Sheikh Musa Animashaun, represented by Imam Abdulsalam Akinwunmi, enjoined Christians, Muslims and adherents of other religions to trail the path of peace and be their brothers’ keepers at all times.
