By Sonia Odigie
The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has charged Nigerian Christians to ensure they procure their Permanent Voters Card (PVC), vote and protect their votes till it is counted and result declared in each polling unit.
Saying that it is not part of his Pastoral assignment to engage in partisan politics, Pastor Adeboye said however that every Nigerian have a duty to register, vote “and make sure that your vote will count.”
He admonished Christians never again to “sit down fold your hands, refuse to vote and then begin to complain about the government. What were you doing when they were voting?”
It is this situation, Pastor Adeboye noted, makes “all kinds of people” to come around and select “for you a government, whether the gubernatorial level or presidential level or even local government level.”
Part of his sermon said: “I need to get this clear once and for all. My assignment is to pray for you. Pray for nations, including Nigeria. My assignment has nothing to do with partisan politics please don’t distract my attention.
“You will bear me out those of you are genuine members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God I have never told you this is the fellow you should vote for.
“Have I ever said that one? Whether in secret or in the open? Never. I have never said, this is the party you should belong to. I have never said it and I will never say it and you know why because in the Redeemed Christians of God Every party is heavily represented. Everyone including APC, PDP, APGA, Labor Party and some parties we don’t even know their names.
“The only reason I have never voted is that if I vote for anyone, I would be unjust to the rest of my children. I am the father of all and I like it that way. All I’m saying and I’m saying it loud and clear as a Nigerian everyone of you are all Nigerians. You are Nigerians before you became a Christian, because nobody is born a Christian. You are a true Christian after you give your life to Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Before you became a Christian you are a Nigerian. You have a duty to your country to register, to vote and make sure that your vote will count. You have a duty to belong to any party of your choice at the very grassroots.
“You can’t sit down fold your hands, refuse to vote and they begin to complain about the government. What were you doing when they were voting?
“They were voting you sat down at home and you didn’t register. All kinds of people then came around and selected for you a government whether the gubernatorial level or presidential level or even local government level.
“They chose for you because you refuse to do anything and then you begin to complain. You must register. Do I hear Amen? Loud and clear.
“You must vote. I didn’t hear amen today. You must sit down there after you have voted to make sure they count the vote and you take note of Who they say won.
“You must make sure that there is no rigging in Nigeria. Do I hear Amen? I don’t care who you vote for do your duty that’s all I’m asking you to do and you must do it.”