By; ISAAC ODEH, Kaduna
For conducting relatively a peaceful and hitch free general elections across the country, Muslim and Christian clerics under the umbrella of the Interfaith Mission for Unity and Progress of Nigeria (IMUPN), have held Interdenominational prayer sessions in honour of of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
According to the clerics, the decision to mark the one year anniversary of conducting the 2023 elections with prayers is basically thank God for keeping Nigeria as a united country after going through an election year.
The prayers held simultaneously across the six geo-political zones at Kano, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Yobe, Plateau, Enugu was to encourage the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu to do more in future elections.
“As clerics we are duty bound to pray for for the peaceful coexistence of our dear country and leaders as well , thus we singled out the Chairman for conducting the election against all odds.” They stated.
In a five-point communique issued after the conclusion of the two-day prayers with the theme: ” Let’s Work Together to Make Nigeria a Better Country”, the Interfaith Mission for Unity and Progress of Nigeria said, “At this critical period of dearth of leadership, we have reached a point where we must seek God’s intervention and guidance for a solid sustainable electoral process that will produce visionary and credible political leaders across all tiers of government.”
The clerics in the communique jointly signed by Reverend Pius Garba; Pastor John Anekwe, Pastor Lazarus Adesami, Mallam Uzairu Bamalli, Sheikh Sabiu Jaafar and Sheikh Mohammed Musa respectively, also underscored the need for Muslims and Christians as well as people of other religions to pray for the country’s leaders, saying that since only God puts leaders in their positions, they need to be supported always, especially with prayers.
While commending INEC boss for conducting one of the most peaceful elections in recent times, especially on the account that the process was rancour free with lives lost reduced to barest minimum before; during and after the election exercises, the clerics scored the 2023 election process high because of the good number of opposition parties that won some critical seats and states.
“It is our joy that all the threats and predictions against our unity didn’t come to pass. Instead we are waxing stronger as an independent nation.” They added.
However, they prayed to God to grant Nigeria economic buoyancy and offered the prayer for peace and tranquility during future elections.
