A Commissioner representing Enugu state at the Federal Character Commission (FCC) Hon. Ginika Tor Florence, has revealed how some supporters of President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, were prevented from voting for him during the just concluded election in Enugu by Catholic Parish Priests.
Hon. Tor, who hails from Ugwu Local Government, said in her village some voters who had assured her of their votes for Tinubu could not even go to their units on election day as they were afraid of being killed.
Speaking at a press conference organised by the Omalegwuoku Progressive Initiative/ Igbo Kwenu for Asiwaju/Shettima, the Commissioner who is also the leader of the Igbo group said so many Southeasterners were mandated not to vote for any other presidential candidates party except Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
According to Ginika Tor, should it not be for protest votes and sentiment of religion, Tinubu would have garnered more votes in the region.
She said: Some of them (voters) could not even look me in the eyes in Enugu state. If we check, my votes could be the highest. Some people could not event go to their unit as they were afraid of being killed. Some peoples’ houses were burnt. That shows you the level the Labour Party took this election.
“They were instructed by the Parish Priest—they were mandated not to vote for any other party but Obi. I feel that is wrong because they were taking undue influence of someone you have spiritual relationship. and that should stop. I want to make this plea to every religious heads, please don’t play god, you said God should give you a leader and he has given you a leader, and you want to be god.
“I wonder how people can come into election with a mindset that it must be only one candidate. If you know it is only you, what was the calculation that you made on the ground that it could be only you? Is it just religious sentiment or ethnic bias? Some of us are not carried away by that. we look at antecedent.
“At this point, we need a man that can change the narrative and the oly thing they hold against this man is age—I have done my research—and health.
“Should it not be for protest votes and sentiments of religion, but I used to tell my people that God used the foolish thing of this world to confound the wise.
“For the talk of Muslim/Muslim ticket, we are have been having Muslim/Christian votes in Nigeria, Nigerians still complain. God will now use something that looks strange to change it, that is my believe.”
Ginika Tor recalled that Obi once tweeted ” that if he is not coming out to serve Nigerians, he will not win, and God held the prayer.”
Also narrating his experience, a serving member of the Lagos state House of Assembly, representing Oshodi/Isolo constituency, Hon. Chukwuemeka Idiomogu, said he had to call his Reverend Father to order in Church for always using the phrase “Obidient” in the Mass during the election period.
Hon Idimogu said: “I am a Catholic, and I will tell you, I am coming from Lagos state, even in my Church, it got to a level they will use a phrase—“try to be obident” while the church is going on. They will say try to be Obidient to this, obedient to that—I had to call my Reverend Father, why are you always using obedient? Because in the mass, it is not only Obidents that are there. you have the Articulated, Batified and others. They are all your children. In a church, you are now talking about Obidents alone.
“If you look at Peter Obi’s history, even while he was governor in Anambra state, he divided the religious house between Anglican and Catholic, it has always been his style. In fact, he goes a long way to bring a big division between the Muslim and the Catholics, even the chritians, it is not the best way to go.”
While congratulating the President-elect and all the APC members for the victory, the leader of the group, called on the Igbos to give peace a chance.
“We wish to inform our Ibo brothers and sisters and indeed Nigerians to give peace a chance and join hands to work with our Principals as they embark upon the task of rebuilding our Country. We the members of OPI/ Igbo Kwenu for Asiwaju/Shettima wish to assure them of our continued support and cooperation always.
“We at OPI/Igbo Kwenu for Asiwaju/Shettima look forward to continuously supporting the programs and policies of Asiwaju-led federal Government in order to deliver dividends of democracy to our teeming people and we shall concert our efforts to peace building amongst the component parts of Nigeria towards the unity and prosperity of Nigeria.”
