By Bridget Ikyado
His Grace, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, has cautioned politicians against any attempt to rig the forthcoming general elections.
“With the current yearnings of the people for a better country, the election will no longer be business as usual,” Onaiyekan said on Saturday during the celebration of his 40th anniversary as Bishop, at the Holy Trinity Church, Maitama, Abuja.
“As regards to the results of the elections, politicians should desist from any form of manipulations to their favour if not voted for.
“All those who are planing to play games and scheme to rig in order to frustrate the desire of the decision of the people as regards the results of the elections, should desists from such.
“All of them whether they are in government or not; they should desist from rigging or causing violence, they should not do it, they should allow this election to run in a free and fair way,” he noted.
He assured that he has no special candidate, adding that the advice was for the politicians to understand that “the mood in which Nigeria now is, is not a mood that they will quietly accept a rigged election.
“For the sake of peace, there will be serious repercussions if anybody doesn’t allow a free and fair elections. It won’t be business as usual, anymore.
“I want Nigerians to know that they can no longer keep quiet all the time, hoping that things will change; that God will work miracles.”
Onaiyekan advised Nigerians to use their voter cards to express their minds.
According to him, the outcome of the election will no be about who has more campaign posters or can mobilise more crowds to stadiums.
“It will depend on who can convince Nigerians, and give us a new kind of government.
“Government that is based on people interested in working for the common good and not out to enrich themselves or stay in power or protect their stolen wealth so as not to be queried,” he said.
The Archbishop advised politicians to fear God, as they would answer to their actions before Him.
“Even if no one asks questions, God will ask questions and He has His way of asking questions,” he added.
Also during the church service, the cardinal narrated his journey through priesthood.
“on a Thursday afternoon, January 1983, Pope John Paul II ordained me, Monsignor John Onaiyekan, a Bishop at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
“40 years after as a Bishop, I return thanks to God, many who were with me in that day are no more, but God through His special grace has kept me,” he said.
He prayed God to bless all who had come and those who couldn’t but have prayed for him.
In his speech the Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese, His Grace, Ignatius Kaigama described the cardinal as a man of humility and peace.
“He has been a man who has touched many people.
“40years of episcopal ministry(that is been a bishop) ,he has worked in different capacities and alot has happened, positively.
” He has served in the lords vain yard as archbishop of Abuja and Illorin dioceses.
“He has always given out his best,he is down to earth and highly gifted intellectually and with a very good inter personal skills;a nice person.
” So we celebrate Gods gift to us in Nigeria, Abuja and in the world and i am happy that God has spared him thus far,”he said.
The Bishop prayed God to bless him and keep him in His love and peace.
Also speaking ,Prof Fr. Paulinus Odozor, C.S.Sp,University of Notre Dame, IN, USA, who facilitated with the Cardinal asked God to grant him more wisdom and blessings.
He thanked the cardinal for his courage in speaking out about the ills in the society, which was a means of curbing them.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that friends and clerics from within and outside Nigeria came out to celebrate the cardinal.(NAN)