*Says they’ve lost their souls to DevilFrom Victor Okeke, Enugu
The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Enugu State, His Grace, Most Rev. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, has opined that election riggers in the country are worse than soldiers who overthrow elected governments.
Onah speaking at the funeral mass for the former Senator for Enugu-North Senatorial Zone, Chief Ayoogu Eze, at Umuida, Igboeze-North Local Government Area over the weekend, noted that those who indulge in such have lost their souls to the devil.
He lamented that most of the politicians who were at the church service to bid Sen. Eze farewell won their elections through fraudulent means of either “buying court judgements, vote buying or snatching ballot paper or outright rigging of elections.”
Bishop Onah equally lampooned the federal government for celebrating its Democracy Day on June 12 of every year, stating that it was rather the day democracy was truncated through the annulment of a free and fair election won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawole Abiola.
He noted that June 12 symbolised the day truth (as encapsulated in what Prof. Humphrey Nwosu and his team at then National Electoral Commission (NEC) did by upholding the sanctity of the ballot box and refusing bluntly to be compromised) was murdered which gave birth to the sham elections being witnessed nationwide, subsequently.
Turning to the special guests at the burial ceremony comprising of politicsl juggernauts from across the country, Bishop Onah asked, “how many of the politicians here with us today won their elections?
“Some politicians steal and stockpile money to buy judgements, bribe religious leaders, buy voters, intimidate or even kill voters and security operatives. Some of you did not win their elections.
“There is no difference between politicians who rig elections and soldiers who overthrow elected governments.
“Manipulating elections is a grave offense that undermines the will of the people and threatens democracy, just like a coup d’etat.”
The fearless clergy man advocated high grade integrity in the nation’s electoral processes going forward, pointing out that the electoral umpire must respect the sovereignty of the people.
He further stressed the urgency for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Judiciary, security agencies and other democratic institutions to strive, going forward, to preserve the integrity of the electoral processes across the country.
He observed that the worsening economy and insecurity in the country are all attributable to the activities of selfish politicians who chose to work for selves rather than for the country.
