Recent developments in the electoral processes in Nigeria have raised serious concerns among the faithful of the Archbishop of the Catholic Church of Owerri, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji. In a rousing message delivered at a Pontifical Mass celebrated on the occasion of his pastoral visit to St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Owerri, the Archbishop expressed deep concern over the blatant abuse and desecration of the sacredness of the electoral processes in Nigeria.
According to Archbishop Ugorji, many people, whether legitimate or not in their public office, now seem to be acting and imposing their will, including the election results, on the rest of the population, as if nothing matters anymore. He cautioned that bad governance begins with election rigging, stressing that this widespread trend of rigging alienates citizens from the government and damages the country’s international image.
The Archbishop particularly lamented the fact that the ruling party in all states of Nigeria determines who will be the local council chairmen and councillors, regardless of the choice of the people. This reality has unfortunately been manifested in states like Anambra, Imo and others that have recently held local government elections.
He stressed the importance of respecting the sanctity and sacredness of electoral processes, insisting that the votes of citizens must be taken into account in all elections for Nigeria to move towards a better future. He warned of the dire consequences of continued disenfranchisement of citizens, stressing that this could lead to even more worrisome developments and further damage the country’s already tarnished image on the international scene.
Archbishop Ugorji’s speech was not limited to electoral concerns alone. He also spoke about the harshness of life in Nigeria, describing the current situation as a mystery in which Nigerians are struggling to survive despite the harsh economic conditions, soaring inflation, high transportation costs, and increasing insecurity on the country’s roads. The Archbishop thus highlights the major challenges that the population faces on a daily basis and calls for concrete changes for a better future.
Ultimately, Archbishop Ugorji’s words resonate as a wake-up call to the importance of transparency, justice and fairness in governance, and the need to restore citizens’ trust in democratic institutions. This courageous and inspiring message calls for deep reflection on the critical issues facing Nigeria and the actions that need to be taken to overcome these challenges and build a bright future for all.