Nigerian President assures Catholic Bishops over elections

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians and Catholic Bishops that he cannot rule the country under an interim government and that it would be treasonable to do so.

President Jonathan stated this in an address at an inter-denominational service at the start of the Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Abuja on Sunday. Jonathan said that Interim Government was not known to the Nigerian constitution and that there was no way he would head an interim government.

"Interim government is not known to the Nigerian constitution. There is no way President Jonathan, an elected President will head an interim government", he insisted.

President Good luck Jonathan reiterated that the 29th May, 2015 hand over date was sacrosanct, saying that elections would be held as rescheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on the 28th March and 11th April, this year. Stressing his belief in the country, the Nigerian leader insisted that his or any other person's interest could not be greater than the country.

"I am convinced that the country will be stable. I will not do anything that will jeopardize our nation. The country is bigger than any person or his interests", he maintained.

The President said the election postponement was a blessing in disguise, saying the casualty figures in the 12 February, Gombe attack would have been worse if the election went ahead.

"Look at what happened in Gombe on February 14th, if the elections had been held, the casualty figure after that attack in Gombe would have been great.

Commending the theme of the conference which is family, Jonathan described it as unique; noting that ‎even the Bible acknowledges that if the foundation is not right the righteous cannot do much.

He went on to wish the bishops a successful plenary and thanked the Catholic church for her prayers to the nation.

Bishops' concerns

The Catholic Arch Bishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, in his homily, commended the political parties for accepting the shift in the dates for elections, hoping that it would give the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC  political parties and the electorate ample time to prepare adequately for polls.

Cardinal Onaiyekan condemned the hate speech which characterised the political campaigns, saying that the hot competition between the political parties should not becloud their common objectives to the nation.

Dr. John Cardinal Onaiyekan also cautioned the clergy to guard their utterances and avoid reckless political statements capable of inflaming the society.

The Catholic Bishop of Abuja added that the theme of the Bishops Conference which is, " Good families make good nations" was very apt as nations should do more to promote family values.

The President of the Bishops’ Conference and Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama, appealed to President Good luck Jonathan to do something urgently to assist Nigerian refugees in northern Cameroun who, he said, were suffering untold hardship.

Bishop Kaigama said he received a message from his colleagues in Cameroun requesting for assistance.

The President of the Nigerian Bishops Conference told the political parties in Nigeria to see themselves as a family and work together for the good of the country.

The Bishops promised to also pray with any other Nigerian "who wishes to pray with us."

Prayers were offered for the nation at this period of the elections and for those aspiring to various political positions, the leadership of the country and the Catholic bishops as well as the poor and sick.

The conference, which has the theme, "Good families make good nations", ends on Wednesday.

(Voice of Nigeria: Obiora Ani, Godwin Ukaa, Ugo Okoro)

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