By Christian Njoku
Bishop Emmah Isong of the Christian Central Chapel International (CCCI), Calabar, on Thursday called on all the politicians contesting the 2023 general election to be ready to lose.
Isong who made the call in Calabar while receiving an award as a peace ambassador from the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) said irrespective of what any politician is told by his friends, he must be ready to concede victory if he loses.
The cleric who is also the national publicity Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, (PFN) said any politician that loses should call and congratulate the winner as former President Jonathan did.
While noting that Nigeria cannot take another post-election violence, he appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) to be fair and not compromise the system.
“The 2023 general election is here, our generation will rather choose an election to a revolution, so, I urge all to go out and cast their votes properly and wisely for the right candidate.
“If we allow emotion, sentiments and partisanship to swallow us, we will suffer for another eight years.
“So, INEC, please don’t compromise our franchise by allowing yourself to be compromised by dubious politicians who do not mean well for this nation,” he said.
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He appealed that the votes of the people should not be taken to the Supreme Court or Appeal Court to be counted.
Speaking further, Isong called on the security agencies to be aware that if Nigeria burns, they would be the first to suffer and would pay the price.
“I respect the judiciary but I will never accept a situation where during elections politicians go to sleep and after the election, they wake up and head to the Supreme Court and justice is miscarried.
“No matter the lacuna in our legal system, let our ballot boxes and voter cards speak louder than any other voice, including the voices in the presidency,” he asserted.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Isong was the Coordinator of the Interfaith Anti-Corruption Network of Nigeria (IANN) and had engaged in many advocacies for peace both in Nigeria and abroad.
The well celebrated event had in attendance Bishop John Okoriko, National Chairman of UPF, officials of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), PFN and other dignitaries. (NAN)
