2015 Polls: Catholic Secreteriat To Deploy Four Thousand Observers
Authorities of the Catholic Church of Nigeria will deploy over four thousand observers to monitor the 2015 general election in twenty-three states across the country.
Executive Secretary of the Catholic Secretariat, Reverend Father Evaristus Bassey made the disclosure while briefing journalists on the church emergency needs assessment and development of election preparedness contingency plan in Abuja, Friday.
He said their team will not observe election in the insurgency affected states due to volatility of the states.
Father Bassey cautioned clergy men in the country to avoid inciting and political speeches capable of heating up the polity, while delivering their sermons but urged them to intensify the sensitization of their members to avoid participation in unwholesome activities during and after the February polls.
While charging traditional rulers and parents to discourage their youths from being used as instruments of violence during the polls, Father Bassey urged Nigerians not to succumb to pressure to support politicians due to lack of integrity in the present political system.
He however, disclosed plans of the church, to organize a prayer rally in the five political zones to pray for a rancor free and fair election next month.
The clergy man also advised churches and mosques to set aside some funds to deal with possible humanitarian crises that may arise, to complement government effort which often times is inadequate and therefore unreliable; especially with the experience of the current IDPs situation.