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Pope Francis decries anti-democracy practices

By Isaac Taiwo
02 January 2019   |   4:04 am
Head of Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, Pope Francis, has urged politicians to see themselves as servants chosen to serve the people and not to impose themselves on the electorate.

Pope Francis/ AFP PHOTO / Alberto PIZZOLI

Martins urges Nigerians to shun violence
Head of Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, Pope Francis, has urged politicians to see themselves as servants chosen to serve the people and not to impose themselves on the electorate.

The Pope stated this in his New Year message as the 52nd World Day of Peace was celebrated yesterday at Catholic Cathedral, Lagos.

Francis said the practising of democracy with politicians exploiting the people, denying them of their rights, as well as justifying dishonest gains, among other vices, were betrayal of good politics, which had been denying the electorate from reaping the fruits of good democracy.

He enjoined politicians and governments to pursue peace and avoid any action that could lead to war.

In his own message, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, implored Nigerians to see the forthcoming national elections as ample opportunities to elect into governance competent, credible and God-fearing leaders that are capable of entrenching good governance in the polity.

In the message, delivered by the Director of Social Communications, Msgr. Gabriel Osu, Martins admonished Nigerians not to sit on the fence any longer concerning issues of governance but to become active players to make meaningful input in determining the quality of their future destinies and those of their children.

He, therefore, advised the political class to desist forthwith from embarking on actions capable of fuelling violence ahead of the forthcoming elections.

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