The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Monday, had the presidential candidates of political parties that would participate in 2019 general election interrogated in order to determine their preparedness for governance.
According to CAN, the meeting was held in order to evaluate the readiness and the ability of the candidates to govern the people amidst lots of economic and political challenges and to also speak to their conscience.
At the end of the meeting which took place in Abuja, CAN President, Reverend Samson Ayokunle Olasupo, told journalists that CAN would not be indifference about the electoral process of the country that would surface new political leaders.
“We cannot make the mistakes of the past that worsened our socioeconomic and political problems.
“We won’t take for granted 2019 Nigeria. And it will depend on how free and fair of the forthcoming general elections.
“The entire Nigeria and its structures would suffer if the credibility of the election is threatened.
“We have said repeatedly that political leadership is beyond money making. We have to scrutinize their antecedent, their plans and also tell them our expectations if eventually they win.”
He went on to challenge the political elite to be matured in their approach towards the election stating that it is not a do-or-die affair.
“However, if the 2019 election is going to be credible and globally accepted, then the security agencies, electoral umpire and other stakeholders must be matured and abide by the electoral guidelines.
“We have observed high desperation among the political class which ought not be so.
“People should not force themselves on people because of political office. Anyone that relies on politics for livelihood should have a re-think.
“Such person should get another job and stay off politics because it is not do-or-die.”
Those who attended the meeting include Vice Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi; Presidential candidates of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Oby Ezekwesili; African Democratic Congress (ADC), Obadiah Mailafia; Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Fela Durotoye, amongst several others.
