August 13, 2018
By Ijendu Iheaka
The Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Samuel Uche says that the church will mobilize support for young Nigerians aspiring to political leadership in 2019.
Uche disclosed this in Aba on Monday during a press briefing held at the Wesley Cathedral Methodist Church, Park road, Aba to mark the end of its 46the Conference and 11the Biennial Conference.
Uche said the church would mobilize only for good, upright and young aspiring candidates to make Nigeria better.
He said that the church has a Political Evolution Monitoring Group (PEMG) to support the progressive political developments in Nigeria adding that the church was doing its best to support national progress.
The church in a Communique signed by Uche and the Conference Secretary, Most Rev. Michael Akinwade and released at the event announced its support for young people's participation in politics.
It commended the federal government for signing into law the "Not too Young to Run" bill into an Act to enable young people get political positions.
It said that the act would open the political space for young persons aspiring to leadership and called for creation of enabling environment to make the act effective.
The church thanked the government for granting financial autonomy to local governments which they said would enhance grass roots development and prompt payment of its workers.
"We therefore appeal to those at the local governments not to divert funds accruing to them to white elephant projects.
"On maintaining a vibrant polity, Methodist Church Nigeria urges every citizen above 18 years old to process Permanent Voter's Card (PVC) which is the main tool for determining who governs us.
"We equally urge citizens to come out and vote, not sell their votes but vote according to their conscience.
"Stakeholders in the electoral process should ensure that rigging elections is resisted", it said.
The church warned that no political party would be allowed to misbehave in 2019 adding that if anyone does misbehave,he will face the consequences.
The church said that politics with bitterness which had become rampant in Nigeria was overheating the polity and therefore urged politicians to call themselves to order and play by the rules.
The church urged governments to pay living wages to workers adding that owing them several salary arrears was unwarranted and had led to the untimely death of many workers.
It called on the government to handle the welfare of workers with uttermost care in order to discourage financial corruption in private and public sectors of Nigerian life.
It further called on government to do everything possible to ensure the release of Miss Leah Sharibu who was abducted by Boko Haram in February .
The church while advocating creation of state police under the command of governors called for the overhaul of Nigeria's security apparatus to check incessant loss of lives.
On the issue of ranches, the church said that to ensure peace and equity, cattle farmers should create ranches in their home states.
"Cattle colonies or grazing fields should not be used as a means of colonization, religious proselytizing and forceful acquisition of the ancestral lands of other...
"It is our prayer that in our nation Nigeria, we shall all have peace and God will reign supreme", it said.
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