2019: Bishop urges Catholics to take active role in politics

The Catholic Bishop of Jalingo diocese, The Most Rev. Dr. Charles Hammawa on Thursday called on Christians, especially Catholics to prepare to take active roles in the forthcoming general elections so as to change the political governance of Nigeria for the better.

Hammawa made the call during the opening ceremony of the 2018 General Assembly of the diocese with the theme; “The Catholic Church and Politics in Nigeria,” held at the conference hall of St. Charles Borromeo pastoral centre, Jalingo.

While urging the laity of the church to embrace the challenge of taking active part in partisan politics, Hammawa enjoined them to be guided by the gospel virtues and values for the attainment of good governance, justice and peace.

“Your duty in active and participatory democracy and governance in general is to influence and change the temporal order for the better.

“You cannot vote if you don’t have permanent voters’ card, so I appeal to you delegates to this assembly to be our mobilisers and encourage our people to register and vote at elections.

“We must brave the long hours of waiting and insist on being registered. It is our right and power. If the power of recall does not seem to work, I believe the power of voting will work this time around,” he said.

Governor Darius Ishaku, represented by the Majority Leader of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Albasu kunini commended the church for her role in remodeling the society.

Ishaku who described as timely the theme of the General Assembly, considering the fact that the country was in an election year urged the church not to relent in her role of remodeling the attitude of people to make them responsible citizens for the good of the society.

“The church has a greater role of remodeling our moral virtues as politicians. So,  in this period of high rate of social vices in our democratic political society, the church must stand up and preach moral values to our youth who are always victims of political violence.

“Christian clerics with reference late Fr. Adasu, former governor of Benue State should not be rejected on the basis of their participation in politics. Instead they should be encouraged to pursue the gallantry in Adasu’s scientific discovery and participate actively in politics which is a new form of evangelism,” he said.

While congratulating Bishop Hammawa for the achievements the church has recorded under him,  Ishaku advocated for the participation of the church in the political governance of the country to purify the system and purge it off of ills which has made many look at politics as a dirty games belonging only to the pagans.

In a goodwill message, Special Adviser to the governor on Religious Matters, Rev. Simon Jatutu called on the leadership of the church to hold such conference at various levels in the state to get more people informed and involved.