President Muhammadu Buhari has advised religious leaders in the country to shun partisan politics ahead of the 2019 general elections.
He said this on Saturday at the Interfaith Initiative For Peace Conference noting that advice became necessary having witnessed the roles religious leaders had been playing so far ahead of the elections.
According to him, clerics engaging in partisan politics or political controversies risk losing their public respect.
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“Having witnessed the roles our religious leaders have been playing so far, I appeal to them to eschew partisan politics and appeal to their respective members to read the manifestos of each political party, discuss and pray for God’s guidance before casting their votes.
“Religious leaders should not be seen to involve themselves in partisan politics or political controversies. Otherwise, they risk losing their status and public respect.
“On their part, traditional rulers are also requested to enlighten their subjects, encourage them to ask questions and seek clarifications before going out to vote. As your President, I will request that you encourage your subjects to come out and exercise their voting rights as responsible citizens,” he said.
President Buhari also called on politicians to shun bitterness urging those who lost in the recently concluded primaries to embrace sportsmanship.
According to him, the stability of the nation is more important than anyone’s political ambition.
“To all of us politicians, I ask that we discharge our political responsibilities with integrity, bearing in mind that we will one day give an account to God, the Almighty.
“Our Primary Elections are over, it is my hope that all who feel aggrieved would put the stability of our country first before their political ambitions and accept the decision of their political parties or seek resolution through party reconciliation mechanisms or the law courts.
“Very soon, political campaigns will commence leading to Elections in February next year. It is my hope and prayer that we will even perform better at the polling stations and see to a peaceful completion of the entire process without resorting to the negative use of religion and ethnicity.”
President Buhari boasted that it is the dawn of a new era in Nigeria. He said there is no more lack of transparency and accountability in the nation.
“I am proud to say that our country has moved on, the era of free money, lack of transparency and accountability is over! We deserve continuity; we deserve a better future for the coming generations.
“I sincerely hope 2019 will move us closer to these goals and so I look forward to a peaceful, fair and credible elections come 2019.”
