By Kola Animasaun

My revered friend, Fagbemi, brought me good tidings. I mean, literally. It is a tiding I want to share.
He says: “As you cross to year 2011, every knock in your door in the new year will bring good things. Every call, good news. Every message, unending joy. Every contacts, smile to your face…”

This is the news every Nigerian wants to share; this is the knock of good things we want to answer; this is message of joy and of contacts that will bring smiles to our faces.

As they say: If wishes were horses, beggars will ride. I wish we can, in this new year, our horses will ride the tide of misfortune that dogged the outgone year.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, last Tuesday took a short and long view of the nation.  They saw and read how incorrigible we have become.

Every day, they were overwhelmed by a feeling of apprehensions; every day there were new developments that portended grave danger – a feeling among a large segment of Nigerians that this year portends danger.

The religious leaders zeroed particularly on the coming elections and said the country has witnessed “all sorts of intrigues and politicking” by key political leaders.

The religious leaders counselled Nigerians on the forthcoming elections: First step is that all eligible Nigerians should turn up en masse for registration.

* they (Nigerians) must not compromise their future by selling their votes, they must resist the temptation to mortgage their future and the future of their unborn children.

* they must avoid all sorts of inducement and bribery.
* they must not sell their birthrights.

* they must shun needless suffering by avoiding violence.
* they must not take laws into their hands.

* security should be pro-active and impartial.
* political leaders should be sensitive to national security.
* INEC should do it right.  It should be fair, firm, impartial and just.  It must be extra-vigilant.

Referring to the Press, they said, “Sensational and fabricated/sponsored reports must be avoided more especially when such messages over-heat the polity, threaten free and fair elections or undermine peace and security.”

The leaders particularly advised that, “divisive advertorials and unnecessary mudslinging should be discarded. Let national interest supersede revenue.” They appealed to the Press not to play to the narrow ambitions of selfish people pretending to be politicians.

The religious leaders had words for the traditional rulers and, of course, to the religious leaders.  “There is a correlation between poor governance and poverty on one hand and Godlessness on the other hand.” They said, “They should use the pulpit effectively and positively towards the enthronement of good, responsible and responsive governance.”

Traditional rulers have been asked to “treat all with fairness and justice.  They must not relent in their efforts at promoting peace, mutual respect and understanding among our diverse peoples. They must be above board as they work to settle disputes and resolve conflicts that would arise as groups and individuals compete for political power.”

The religious leaders said: The errors of yesterday which went back 50 years and beyond were responsible for the situation of things today.  To ensure a better and brighter tomorrow, we must use today well.

Good roads, electricity, water, healthcare delivery, food security and, above all, education should be given sufficient attention by our politicians, they said.

We should not enthrone any government except we are sure that the government will adequately provide such basic needs.

Quotes from the religious leaders:
1. “Let us ensure that we do it right in order to get it right.”
2. “If security fails, all other things fail.”
3. “They know that politicians come and go and that we are all accountable to God.  Whatever we sow is what we shall reap.  Whoever sows the wind will reap the whirlwind.”
4. “Let us make a new beginning and let the new beginning be now.”