A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), ReclaimNaija Grassroots Movement is to engage 7,400 religious leaders from all the states of the Federation to teach on civic and voter education from their various platforms.

Mrs Ngozi Iwere, Executive Director, Community Life Project (CLP), ReclaimNaija, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at a High-level Religious Leaders’ Forum.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the topic of the forum was: “The Responsibility of Religious Leaders and Faith Communities in the Forthcoming Elections’’.

Iwere said that standardised modules and voter education materials that were nonpartisan had been prepared to promote active participation in the elections in a manner that would ensure free and fair polls.

“We believe strongly that the civic space should not be abandoned to politicians; so we are engaging 200 religious and traditional leaders each in the 36 states to curb electoral irregularities.

“We have faith leaders and communities who are the moral voices that must be heard. They are servants of God Almighty, answerable to God, to provide the needed guidance.

“We want both the leaders and the faith communities to speak, and we believe that Nigerians are listening; the world is listening; God Himself is listening,’’ she said.

The executive director noted that the major political parties were usually touted as having structures all over the country.

She, however, explained that it remained unsaid that religious leaders and faith communities had more structures than political parties anywhere in the world.

She urged religious leaders and faith communities to put those structures in use for the promotion of non-partisan, peaceful, free, fair and credible elections.

Iwere said it was necessary for the voter education to be heard from the moral voices in the society to provide guidance for religious people and faith communities on how to conduct themselves during the elections.

She said that there was a deep yearning in the country for peaceful, free and fair elections at a time when the country was witnessing ethno-religious divisions and different forms of violence.

“There is a lot of misinformation, especially in social media and cynicism. A significant number of our citizens are questioning whether there is any point in going out to vote.

“There is lack of faith in some quarters that vote will count and many others are anticipating election rigging,’’ she lamented.

Iwere said that Nigerians are known as some of the most religious people, adding that such religiosity should reflect in the construction of a peaceful, just and prosperous society where citizens had confidence in the system.

She, however, said that it was ironical that the nation was yet to experience the fruits of that religiosity in its civic life.

Also speaking at the forum, Ms Catherine Angai, Program Coordinator, Open Society Initiative for West Africa, said that Nigeria was confronted with many fake news and hate speeches mostly with religious undertones.

Angai said that there was need for moral voices to be raised by both traditional and religious leaders.

“This meeting is apt for the review of the value system and for spreading of the message of peace during elections.

“The gruesome killings and social vices done by the masses are unacceptable,’’ she said.

Also, Mr Clement Nwankwo, Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation, urged traditional leaders and religious leaders to step up to their responsibility in voter education for the masses.

Nwankwo urged them to be proactive in cautioning their followers against violence and advised them to encourage their followers to shun vote-buying and to elect the right people for the nation.

Community Life Project (CLP) is a leading non-partisan civil society organisation working to promote inclusion and participation of grassroots citizens in electoral integrity and democratic governance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the wake of the 2011 elections, CLP created the nonpartisan ReclaimNaija social movement for grassroots citizens to come together across religious and ethnic divides to express their voices on governance.

Notable among CLP Faith-based partners are: the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) and several other Christian and Muslim youth organisations and networks.

-NAN

BE

– Jan. 16, 2019 @ 17:10 GMT |