By Emegwoako C. Paschal
The Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Association (NCDPA) has stated that it will mobilize all members of Christ’s faithful to actively participate in the task of electing God-fearing and competent leaders to political offices in 2023, using church resources and structures.
The association stated this in a communique issued on Friday, October 28th at the conclusion of its 35th Annual General Meeting in Calabar (AGM).
One of the agreements reached by the members of the NCDPA was to encourage Nigerians to participate in politics.
The theme of the AGM, which began on Monday, was “The Importance of Effective Evangelisation through Inclusiveness and Political Awareness in Nigeria.”
In the communiqué, the association expressed concern about the country’s leadership crisis and promised to change the narrative in 2023.
The priests, on the other hand, stated that they would continue to respect the sacredness of the pulpit and use it only for the proclamation of God’s word, not for political campaigns.
It emphasized that Nigeria’s current sociopolitical situation required all hands on deck to help put the country on the path of progress and development.
The NCDPA urged the government to put in place the structures needed to ensure free, fair, and credible elections in 2023.
Meanwhile, the association stated that it intended to prevent unrest in the country by productively engaging the youth.
The priests urged the government at all levels to implement workable plans to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians affected by the floods.
Rev. Fr JohnBosco Ezehi, National President of the association, and Rev. Fr Vincent Illa, Secretary, both signed the communique.
