A non-governmental organization, the National Unity Forum (NUF) on Sunday in Abuja held an intercessory prayers for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the 36 state governors and all others in positions of authority in the country.
The group particularly prayed for the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, and the success of all subsequent elections in Nigeria.
National Coordinator of the forum, Com. Godwin Meliga who briefed journalists during the rally described the position of the INEC Chairman as pivotal to the sustenance, growth and development of the country’s democracy.
Meliga said the group’s decision to resort to prayers to God as a way out of the myriad challenges confronting the nation was informed by the time-tested efficacy of prayer.
Meliga further stated that while other Nigerians may resort to acts of civil disobedience and open protests in order to express their disenchantment with the prevailing socio-economic and political challenges facing Nigeria, his group resorted to praying because it was the best option for the country at the moment.
The group said it is setting aside the 25th day of February every year as its National Intercession Day, urging Nigerians to, regardless of their faith, consider it a civic obligation to spare some moments on the 25th of February every year to join their hearts in prayers to God for national peace, unity and progress.
While passing a vote of confidence on Prof Mahmud Yakubu led INEC, Meliga commended the INEC boss and his team for their strident efforts at ensuring the success and credibility of the 2023 General Elections.
He opined that given the tensed state of the national polity prior to the last general elections, due mainly to socio-ethnic and geopolitical diversities, any attempt by INEC to have delivered a compromised electoral process could have triggered violent upheavals across the country, which may have threatened the very fabrics of our mutual coexistence.
“But the fact that INEC, under Prof. Yakubu, was obviously above board in the discharge of its mandate during the last general elections, helped to a great extent in disarming all those nursing sinister intentions for the country, including all those who may wish to capitalize on the outbreak of widespread electoral violence to achieve their narrow destabilization agenda for Nigeria,” stated Com. Meliga.
After the session of prayers at the Unity Fountain, the group embarked on a solidarity walk to the Headquarters of INEC in Maitama.
