By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The incoming administration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been advised to work for the Nigerian people instead of pandering to the vagaries of political office.
This advice was offered by His Emminence, John Cardinal Onaikan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja Diocese on was a guest of Channels Television breakfast programme Sunrise Daily monitored in Abuja on Thursday.
Speaking on the topic: ‘Agenda for incoming government of Tinubu’, Cardinal Onaikan cautioned Tinubu that it can no longer be business as usual in the face of the current economic hardship most Nigerians are grappling with.
According to him, the new administration should not allow itself to go the same trajectory of the outgoing government, explaining that Nigerians are in a hurry to see a turnaround in their everyday lives hence Tinubu’s government cannot afford to fail the people.
The Clergy lamented that Nigerian politicians have failed the masses as all their electoral promises are never kept, pointing out that poverty has ruined the society as politicians have weaponized it for their selfish interest.
Speaking further he said: “It’s unfortunate that 63 years after Nigeria got her Independent, the country has remained undeveloped, worse than the expectations of the citizens.
“Our young people are leaving the country in their numbers but I am 80 years old and cannot leave until I join Paradise. Poverty has ruined our society as politicians have weaponized it for their selfish interest”.
Asked if the just concluded general election does not have some positives, Cardinal Onaikan categorically lampooned the electoral umpire Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for gross misconduct by failing to follow its own Election Guidelines and Electoral Act 2022 in the process of conducting the elections.
Said he: “We are deceiving ourselves to say we have done well in the last election. INEC fell short of expectations and that have create crisis in the polity. The election managers did very bad job hence the spate of litigations that have followed the election”.
On the roles of some religious leaders ahead of the general election, the Clergy said religious leaders should be careful not to be used by the political class for their own selfish interest.
Said he: “I am not looking for a Christian or Muslim President but a President who will save Nigeria and Nigerians from the terrible living conditions. I am sure all Nigerians want someone who will rescue them from multi-dimensional poverty”.
On Nigerians being too religious but do bad things, he said: ” Those who rigged 2023 general election know themselves. They know what they did in their heart of hearts but the most interesting thing is God knows them more than they know themselves.
“Even our leaders and our public officers swear by God, either with the Bible or Quran before taking office, our national anthem and pledge contain God yet evil abound in Nigeria. So it’s not all about religion.
“I am a Christian and I have no apologies for that likewise Nigerians of other faiths. In fact, Nigerian Christians and Muslims shop together from one market and nobody is buying items cheaper because of your religion. They do their businesses together too and they don’t have problems with each other.
“It’s the politicians who introduced religious and ethnic divisions to gain political powers and when the get into office they will corner everything for themselves and abandon the people.
