National Democracy Day: A Stich In Time!

By Bishop Theophilus Ajose

The Directorate of Politics and Governance (DPG) of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos State hereby congratulates all Nigerians on this memorable occasion of the celebration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day. We pray that the Lord shall grant our Nation a true spirit of Democracy for the building of our nation in Unity and Peace.We also congratulate and rejoice with those who were recently duly elected as candidates of various political parties and pray that the Lord shall grant them the wisdom to uphold righteousness, justice, integrity and fairly play as they move to the next stage in our political narrative as a nation and people.Towards this end, and with all sense of spiritual, political and moral responsibility, we hereby totally align with the position of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)’s total rejection of Christian/Christian or Muslim/Muslim tickets at the National, State and Local Government levels. Consequently, we advise all political parties to operate beyond religious and ethnic sentiments in the election of candidates into various offices across the state. The political architecture of Nigeria, and Lagos State in particular, demands that both major religions must be fairly and justly represented and balanced in the constitution of party and elective positions.A very worrisome development unfolding in Lagos State is calling into question the subtle partisan persecution of our members who are very loyal to their parties and seeking for political offices across some major political parties. Our investigations and findings revealed the denial of Pentecostal Christians of party tickets; even those who are very loyal to their parties and vying for second terms were dropped in favour of candidates from other religions. More of concerned is the leaked plan by some parties to replace our members who have won the party primaries based of flimsy excuses.While we have nothing against any religion; we wholesomely welcome and are ready to work with and support candidates validly and duly elected by their respective political parties however, we are quick to let it be known that while parties can impose their candidates on their parties, they cannot impose them on the voters!As a major political stakeholder and bloc in the political narratives in our country and state, we are confident that our political assets are our faithful members and numbers; and our numbers will count and be counted at these elections! The paradigm has shifted and changed! Our over six million members in Lagos State, out of which over 70% are eligible voters (including our youths) shall make the huge difference!!We hereby implore all our members to be peaceful, prayerful and ensure decorum while all necessary discourses shall be engaged to ensure that none of our members is persecuted or dispossessed of his or her rightful position in any political party.Once again, we congratulate all Nigerians and our fellow Lagosians on this Democracy Day anniversary and we pray that the will and purpose of God for Nigeria shall be fully established in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Bishop Ajose is the Lagos State Director, South West Deputy Director of DPG