Nigerians and politicians have been urged by the Student Christian Movement (SCM) of Nigeria to believe in democracy as it remains the indefatigable hope of the common man and a good catalyst for the country’s rapid development.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National President, SCM, Mrs Ebere Ubesie, gave the charge in a release signed and made available to newsmen by its Executive Secretary, Mr Dare Ajongbo, in Ibadan on Thursday.
Ubesie appreciated God for keeping the country united against certain doomsday predictions and projections.
She said: “Nigeria remained united and undivided after the elections.
Nigeria should not give up on democracy despite the lingering teething challenges. It can always be a long walk to freedom. It may not yet be Uhuru but Uhuru is a possibility in Nigeria.
SCM has good faith in the Nigerian judicial system and believes that all aggrieved persons and parties looking for justice will find it there.
“Nigerians must not for any reason take laws into their hands. Let the Nigerian constitution be the leading light in the resolution of all disputes and contentions coming out of these elections.”
The president further said the association was happy about the youths’ massive involvement in the 2023 elections and their participation in vying for elective positions.
According to her, the INEC Chairman, said a total number of 37,060, 399 registered voters in the just concluded elections which is 39.65 per cent fall between ages 18 and 34.
“We are happy over this unprecedented surge.
“SCM is glad at this new fervency of young people in the politics and governance of the country.
This new season of youth participation in Nigerian politics saw three very young Nigerians being elected into State Houses of Assemblies.
“SCM commends this and implores political leaders to encourage this new development. Nobody should despise their youthfulness,” Ubesie said.
The association noted that never in recent Nigerian history had Christians become interested and involved in political party politics and electoral processes like in the 2023 general elections.
She said: “The earliest dividends of this were seen in the governors-elect at Akwa Ibom, a Pastor; at Benue, a Reverend Father; and Plateau, a renowned Christian leader.”
Ubesie called on Christians and leaders in the church to keep praying for those elected and find ways to keep those in elected office in check, so as not to derail from faith.
“SCM urges church leaders to refrain from making inflammatory comments that tend to heat the tempo of politics. All things must be done decently and in order. Being circumspect is wisdom in all political comments,” she said.
The association called for caution in utterances by political leaders so as not to divide the country further through religion and ethnic biases.
Ubesie also commended wwomen’sparticipation in the election adding that it was “a calling breaking one”.
“In Adamawa State, a woman nearly won the governorship race. SCM is happy that the just concluded election produced deputy governors in six states of Kaduna, Plateau, Ogun, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom and Rivers
“With 17 Senators and 48 House of Representative members, the women in Nigeria have made a significant leap in the country’s governance. SCM is of the hope that the momentum in this participation will increase,” she said.
SCM however charged INEC to do more as the Nigerian electoral umpire.
“The BVAS malfunctioning should not have been explained away simplistically as a mere technical problem when the Chairman of the body gave all Nigerians including the international community the full assurance that the BVAS will function well.
“The transparency of the body came under a huge cloud of doubt because of this.
SCM feels strongly that electoral reforms should be an ongoing affair in Nigeria.
With several cases of underage voting, ballot box snatching, partisan intimidations under the watch of security agents, late arrival of electoral officers and materials, variegated cases of election violence cutting across the six geo-political regions and other vices as witnessed in the last election the need for electoral reforms has become more urgent than ever,” she said.
