2015: CAN warns political parties against rigging, imposition of candidates

The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Benue, Bishop Yiman Orkwar, has warned political parties in Benue against election rigging and imposition of candidates on their parties in 2015.

Orkwar gave the warning in an interview with the NAN in Makurdi.

He said the imposition of candidates and election rigging were antithetical to the political development of the country and should be jettisoned.

“They both lead to political tension in the system and have far reaching political and social implications which must be avoided.

“I want our politicians to learn from our political history and what happened in 1983 when the then proscribed Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) announced landslide victory for the NPN in some states

“Our politicians should learn how to allow democracy to work in this country by allowing the wishes of the people to prevail during party primaries and general elections.

“We already have too much crises in the country; we should not be adding to it by acts of political recklessness.

“Let our politicians practise responsible politics where the wishes of the people are respected and not their individual whims and caprices,” the bishop said.

He commended the Benue Government for working to restore normalcy in the state, adding that the churches were assisting the government through their sermons to sustain the prevailing peace.

The chairman, however, called on the government to implement the resolutions of Gen. Atom Kpera’s Committee on Peace and Conflicts Resolution to prevent future outbreak of hostilities in the state.

Orkwar warned those fanning the embers of religious politics in the country to refrain from it because of its damning consequences on the country.

“This has the consequences of breaking up this country and as a religious leader, I call on those promoting destructive politics to stop because it is not in the interest of Nigerians.

“God who created us knows why He kept us together as one country; the scripture says He defines the boundaries of nations and decides when the nations are matured.”

He advised the politicians to hinge their political campaigns on issues and not on divisive elements which were not in the interest of the country.