The Plateau chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged candidates of political parties to avoid utterances and actions that could cause violence or bloodshed at the 2023 general elections.
Plateau CAN Chairman, Rev. Fr. Polycarp Lubo gave the charge on Tuesday in Jos, where governorship candidates signed a pact to conduct themselves peacefully during electioneering.
Lubo said that the essence of the peace pact by CAN was to ensure that candidates and their parties did not to take laws into their hands as they solicit for votes.
“If you have any concern, follow the legal procedures to address the issue; don’t resort to self-help or violence.
“We don’t want bloodshed in Plateau because of politics. Most times we have crises because we mix politics with religion and we don’t want anything that will puncture the relative peace we are currently enjoying,’’ he stressed.
The CAN chairman also told the candidates to note the fact that God gives leadership at a particular time to fulfil His purpose.
According to him, only one out of the candidates will emerge as the governor of the state.
He commended the candidates for turning out for the peace pact, saying the meeting was also for CAN leaders including those in local governments to physically see, interact and also pray for them.
“Our job as CAN is to pray and support the government of the day to succeed.
“We don’t hesitate to draw the attention of the leader when he or she veers off the right direction.
“All of us have the duty and responsibility to tell our people to get their PVCs and to vote the right candidates both at the state and at the national levels,’’ he said.
In his remarks, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda said the peace pact would help to enshrine peace in the structures of politics in Plateau.
Yilwatda assured that he always stood for peace and as a man of peace; he would not do anything to the contrary.
The APC candidate added that as a Christian, he knew that Christ is the Prince of Peace and that any society built on peace would thrive.
Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr Caleb Mutfwang, said that his campaign had been civil, polite, peaceful and issues-driven.
“We also believe that after the elections, all of us are Plateau people and there is no need to put any life in jeopardy because of an election.
“We have always been committed to peace because our key agenda is to promote peace and that is why we signed this accord to demonstrate our commitment to peace,’’ he said.
Labour Party’s (LP) governorship candidate, Dr Patrick Dakum in his remarks, said that he had spoken with his supporters to conduct themselves peacefully.
Rev. Bernard Kyesen in an exhortation taken from 1Samuel 16: 1-13 said that CAN would not rest until what was designed for Plateau by God was achieved.
Kyesen said that Plateau needed a governor that would have the heart to love the people and would actualise the Plateau agenda.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other candidates that signed the peace pact were Mr Luka Pampe of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Mr Sani Dawop of African Democratic Party (ADP).