By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN, says it will not engage in any form of party politics including choosing or fielding a candidate in the 2023 Presidential election.
Speaking at the media briefing to flag-off this year’s World Communication Week activities, the Director Church and Society, Reverend father Uche Obiechina, said, politics is about governance, and the well-being of the people, so the church in Nigeria and Catholic Church all over the world, supports politics and encourages its members to play politics but will never dabble into partisan politics.
According to him, even though the Catholic Church as an institution cannot play party politics because its members belong to different parties and as such, the church cannot identify with any political party but expects her members to play active roles in party politics.
Reverend father Obiechina said that the church is mobilising Christians and non-Christians to rise up to the reality of politics so as to bring about good governance for the common good of the country which is in dire need of good leadership.
Earlier, the National Director of Social Communication of the Catholic Secretariat, Rev Father. Michael Umoh, advised Nigerians to desist from treading along tribal, ethnic, religious or political affiliations, as the church is looking up to the next dispensation with hope; so will not give room for blames.
He said this is the time for Nigerians to rise in unison to act and lend their voices to all that is good and noble so as to save the country from mistakes of the past that plunged the nation into the present excruciating pains being experienced.
The National Director of Social Communications, said, that the theme of this year’s World Communication Day, ‘Listen to the ear of the heart’ implies freely giving our time to listen to the people which he said is the first act of charity.
The Secretary General, Reverend father Zacharia Samjumi, had in his opening remarks, commended journalists for all they do in using their platforms to ending all forms of persecution, bringing to the fore the plight of the masses and making their voices heard.
For the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, FCT Council, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche, journalists have had it rough in the past six years and it may be tougher as the 2023 General Election approaches but expressed joy that with the church already interrogating the suffering of the people, there is hope for the common man.
Highlights of the event include, unveiling of gifts ahead of the Communication Week.
