…Those clamouring for interim govt, election postponement enemies of Nigeria –Martins  – The Sun Nigeria

By Christopher Oji 

Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has described those who want to disrupt the elections as enemies of Nigeria.

He also said those clamouring for an interim government, and threatening to cause problems before, during and after the election should be treated as enemies of the country.

He tasked Nigerians to cooperate with President Mohammadu Buhari, who has repeatedly promised to deliver credible elections on February 25 and March 11. He also implored Buhari to honour his words and promises to Nigerians and the international community on free, fair and credible elections. 

Martins spoke with Daily Sun after administering the sacrament of confirmation on 440 faithful, and blessing of the Parish House at Our Lady Health of The Sick Catholic Church, Onipetesi Estate, Mangoro,  Lagos.

“I believe that anybody who is asking that the election should be cancelled or that an interim  government should be installed, that person is not a friend of Nigeria, such persons do not have the good of Nigeria at heart. What we should be doing at this point in time is encouraging the government to ensure that whatever is going to affect the election, should be cleared out because in a first instance, it will be completely unconstitutional and a complete rubbishing of the will of the people if anyone wishes or creates any attempt to rather cancel the elections or even to postpone it.” 

Martins also tasked security agencies to take  threats on non-indigenes seriously, look for the sources of those threats and arrest them.

On the scarcity of new  Naira notes, he said the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria had a meeting and part of their resolution was  that government should do everything possible to ensure more of the new notes   is circulated  to eradicate the impact on the masses.

“I believe the Governor of the Central Bank ought to have taken steps to ensure that this won’t cause problems, but we have seen that even the president has overruled the Supreme Court, but not in such a way as to even make life easier for people. I think that certainly government needs to grow in order that our president can convince people that he tends to actually give this country a legacy of free and fair election, they should deal with matters that are threatening the elections, and ensure that the election will be fair,” he said.