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Tag: Paulinus Ezeokafor

  • Massive voting key to checkmate rigging – Cleric

    The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has urged Nigerians to turn out en masse on Saturday to cast their votes and ensure their votes counted.

    He identified massive voting as one sure way to checkmating election rigging and manipulation of results in the country.

    The Prelate who spoke Friday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka, advised Nigerians to vote according to their consciences to ensure the emergence of credible leaders.

    He cautioned against vote-trading, insisting that such vices were inimical to the electoral process.

    “Vote buying and selling can only produce leaders who are not the collective wish of the people,” he said.

    Read Also: Vote buying will entrench poverty, says Cleric

    Ezeokafor further asked politicians and their supporters to respect the constitution and play by the rules, stressing that election was not a do-or-die affair.

    He said, “Desperation and quest for political power should not be the primary reason for participating in an election but a desire to improve on the status quo if elected to serve the people.

    “Politicians should refrain from foul-languages, hate-speeches and campaigns of calumny but emphasize more on practical issues of development especially as it concerns poverty alleviation and job creation.”

  • Why INEC must go beyond credible elections – Cleric

    Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Anambra state, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor has applauded the steady improvement of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in the state in conducting a free, fair and credible election.

    He said the progress was more evidenced during the last governorship election where the outcome of the results was not contested.

    Speaking during an advocacy visit of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, the cleric however stressed the need for the commission to insist on credible poll that would not only be fair and transparent, but must be acceptable by all.

    He said the acceptability of the outcome of credible elections by all parties involved would not only guarantee peace, but would compel those with intention to contest the results to drop the plan.

    “The INEC has improved tremendously in recent times. During the last governorship election, the credibility of the election, to a large extent, reduced the tension the exercise was often characterised with.

    “Even the politicians who knew their capabilities, but still went ahead to put up false impression of winning, had to own up defeat when they saw the outcome of the election,” he said.

    Read Also: Why INEC ordered rerun in Osun, by witness

    According to Ezeokafor, when elections were conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner, even the doubting Thomases would have no option than to accept its outcome in good faith.

    While calling on the electoral umpire not to create suspicion that the results were being “cooked” during the collation process, the Bishop appealed to politicians to be ready to accept defeat in the spirit of sportsmanship.

    “There is no doubt that your responsibilities and challenges are enormous while expectations from you are high. You must be prepared to meet those expectations.

    “Those participating in the forthcoming elections should also be willing to accept the outcome of the elections.

    “It will be catastrophic for those who lost not to accept defeat and allow the winner to concentrate in the art of governance.

    He also called on the electorate to vote according to their conscience, adding that “it is only in the selection of leaders that Nigerians have the opportunity of reshaping and making decisions about the future of the country.”

  • Priest kidnap: Demanding ransom from church unimaginable – Catholic bishop

    The Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has described as unimaginable and foolhardy the demand on the Church to pay for the release of any abducted priests.

    He said the Church did not pay ransom to kidnappers because it relied solely on people’s benevolence and goodwill for her survival.

    Ezeokafor spoke on Monday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka, in reaction to the N15million ransom demand by the abductors of Rev. Father Christopher Ogaga, a Catholic Priest in Aragba, Oviri-Okpe, Okpe Local Government, Delta State.

    He wondered why right thinking person would ever contemplate kidnapping a priest of God, let alone requesting ransom from the Church.

    He said, “Mother Church does not pay ransom to kidnappers because it relied solely on people’s benevolence and goodwill for her survival.

    “Catholic priests live on parishioners’ benevolence. Whatever they receive as gifts are what they live with. No additional income anywhere.

    Read Also: Police rescue kidnapped Catholic priest in Delta

    “They have given up everything, children, accumulation of wealth, owning and acquisition of property. They sacrificed their earthly pleasures just to serve God and humanity. They need prayers, help, encouragement and not this type of treatment.”

    While calling for the immediate release of the priest, Ezeokafor prayed for the repentance of the abductors of the priest from their evil ways.

    ‘The priest should be released forthwith. The Church has no money to give to anybody. There is nothing the Church will do in this situation.

    “Where would they get the money from if I may ask? These priests are going around preaching and calling for repentance. Why go after them?” he queried.

  • Okada ban has restored sanity in Anambra – Catholic Bishop

    The Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor has commended the Anambra State government over the ban on commercial motorcycle operation in Onitsha and Awka, saying the proscription has restored sanity to the once noisy cities.

    He said the ban has also lessened the noise pollution occasioned by the frequent movements of the motorcyclists in both cities.

    Speaking on Friday at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Nkwelle, Awka during the burial of Noble Lady Juliana Chinwe Okika, mother of Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Kenechukwu Okika, the cleric however expressed reservations on the timing of the notice.

    Ezeokafor who hinted that he was away when the ban notice was issued, noted that more time would have been given to the operators to enable them negotiate for their next line of business.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill couple in Anambra

    “I came in to behold a serene environment. I can now sleep and wake up anytime I like without any form of disturbance. The operators move around anytime without recourse to people’s health or quiet time.

    “You know it is not easy to change a business, I learnt that some of them do not even know how to drive buses or shuttles. Government should please consider time when next they embark on directive like this.

    “I’m glad that the government through Anambra State Small Business Agency (ASBA) has provided an alternative means to cushion the effect on the affected persons. Now that the decision has been reached let the affected persons leverage on this initiative,” he said.

    The Catholic Prelate also expressed satisfaction at the orderly manner the ban was implemented and enforced as well as the total compliance witnessed so far on the side of the operators.

     

  • Bishop hails Obi for investment in education

    Bishop hails Obi for investment in education

    The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Paulinus Ezeokafor, has expressed joy at the consistent top performance of Anambra State in national examinations since the handover of schools to the mission by the former administration of Mr. Peter Obi.

    The education reforms embarked upon by Anambra State in the last couple of years have continued to yield fruits as schools in the state again emerged the overall best in the 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), a repeat of the feat recorded in the last two years.

    Commenting on this at Awka, Ezeokafor said the return of schools to the mission by the immediate past regime of Peter Obi was responsible.

     

     

  • Market leader buries mum

    All is set for the burial of Mrs. Debora Victoria Ezenwobi (Nee Nnolim), mother of the President of New Tyre Market Union, Onitsha, Chief Sunday Ezenwobi. It will hold at her home, Ihulu, Aguluzigbo in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    Her remains will be buried on Friday after a Catholic mass at the Queen of All Hearts Catholic Church, Aguluzigbo.

    Ezenwobi said the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor, would preside at the mass, adding that the ceremony which starts on Thursday, with a Christian service of songs will end on March 2, with a thanksgiving service at the Queen of Hearts Parish.