The Auxiliary Archbishop, Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Most Reverend Anselm Umoren, has charged Nigerians to think beyond money politics and prioritize their future by electing people with capability to deliver dividend of democracy.
Reverend Umoren gave the advice in an interview with newsmen at the “2019 Feast Day Celebration of Our Patron Saint Patrick Thanksgiving Mass” which held on Sunday.
The event was organised by St. Patrick Edo-Delta Catholic Community, Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja.
Asked of his views about the just concluded general elections, Umoren said there was need for Nigerians to change some of their mentalities about elections.
He said: “We should prepare a little bit more than what we have done; try to change mentality of Nigerians that we don’t live on short term. We should be think on long term and that should reflect who we elect to represent us.
“What criteria do we use to elect people? Because this whole issue we are hearing of people using money to get votes, that is a useless way of living. If Nigerians want it that way they should know that they do not just have any future, they are not building a future, he added.
“We must get beyond that and think of electing people who have the quality and who have shown it.
“We don’t just electing people by what they say but by what they have done before, the precedence that they have. In that regards we know they can do better.
“But if I have done nothing before and you elect me, what do you expect? Whatever I do is what I can do. So, we need to go beyond this childish way of living and acting, and begin to take responsibility for our lives and the lives of our children on the future.”
Reverend Umoren also advised voters in states schedule for supplementary governorship elections on March 23 to peacefully come out and vote for candidates of their choice, saying at the end of the day whatever decision they make would leave with them in the next four years.
“So, people must make sure that whoever they will be comfortable with are the ones they will elect,” he said.
On the significant of celebration, he explained that Saint Patrick was not just important to the church, but also represented a symbol of love.
“St Patrick was an important figure in the church, especially in the missionary life of the church not just because of what he did in Island but even because of where he started from.
“Haven been into lsland as a slave, he was released and he went back to convince the people that actually enslaved him.”
Umoren said Christians must go beyond loving those that love them to those they sometimes perceived to have hated them.
Highlight of the event hosted by at St. Kelvin Catholic Church, Jikwoyi Abuja, include cutting of St. Patrick cake.
