The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has given directives to churches that their members should vote candidates based on character, competence, capacity and policies.
The directive also expected that candidates to be voted for should have “the fear of God, honesty and truthfulness, respect for the rule of law, justice and fairness for all, respect for religious and ethnic diversity, compassion and discipline, clean and credible lifestyle”.
The directive was read on Sunday at the Family Worship Centre, Abuja by a Senior Pastor, Sarah Omakwu. The circular is expected to be circulated to churches across the country. It was produced by CAN’s Political and Strategy Committee.
A CAN official, who spoke off-the-record, confirmed the directive.
On character, CAN stated that such candidate’s record must show “no membership of cult, no involvement in drugs and withcraft; no fanaticism, no relationship to Boko Haram or other violent religious group”.
On competence, it urged Christians to look out for “quality performance in previous positions, good education sufficient to manage a complex society, effective management of human and natural resources”.
Regarding capacity, the directive stated that the candidate must have the ability to envision transformation, ability to communicate the vision to diverse peoples, ability to effectively execute the vision of transformations, as well as proof of good health, sound mind and physical fitness for the job.
As for policies, CAN advised the church to vote candidates that support state police, restructuring, ranching, among other things.
On policies, CAN further states, “state police, religious neutrality of the Nigerian state, enforcement of fundamental human rights of all Nigerians, restructuring to decentralise governance, equitable and enforceable sharing of executive offices, equal ethnic and religious representation in military and Security agencies, self-determination for all Nigerian people, no to RUGA (Rural Grazing Area), yes to ranching, education and free healthcare to all Nigerians (including almajiri), no open grazing (rather modernisation of animal husbandry), local control of local economy, including waters, rivers and forest”.
CAN had said it would make a categorical statement as to who Nigerians should vote during next year’s presidential election. Among other things, the association said it would not support any presidential candidate that fields running mate of same faith.
