President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mr Samson Ayokunle, on Monday urged Nigerians to avoid desperate politicians by voting only credible candidates in 2019.

Ayokunle made the remarks while briefing journalists after a meeting with representatives of 14 presidential candidates in Abuja, on their plans for Nigerians and the church.

He said that the church decided to reach out to stakeholders and presidential candidates to ask them their credentials for aspiring to the highest position in the country.

According to him, the church cannot keep quiet in this situation because the church can only prosper when a nation prospers. If 2019 elections are not free and fair all Nigerians will be in trouble including the church, he said.

The cleric who expressed disappointment over the desperation of politicians towards 2019 general elections said the motive for the meeting should not be taken for granted, adding that the security of Nigerians was paramount.

He urged Independent Electoral Commission, (INEC), Nigeria Army, police and other security agencies to abide by electoral rules to avoid crisis during and after the election.

“I spoke with President Muhammadu Buhari and he told me that when we conducted the 2015 elections people didn’t expect it to be so free and fair but the way it was conducted gave us a sense of pride in the international community.

“If the 2019 elections are not better, if the police are not better behaved, if the army is not better behaved, if INEC is not better behaved, the entire election process might be a failure.

“If politicians are not better behaved and they show desperation, it will be a failure. We are again warning politicians.

“The desperation we saw at intra-party elections is giving us concern. If they can be so desperate and they end up fighting what will they do when they contest with (the) opposition, the desperation is too much, “he said.

The CAN President urged Nigerians to beware of jobless politicians whose job description is politics adding that such people should not be allowed to contest for any position.

“Leading Nigeria is a sacrifice. Why do you want to lead by force. Go and rest you do not need to destroy the entire land,” he said.

Ayokunle said that any politician that would want to lead Nigerians, by all means, should be regarded as a suspect.

On the electoral amendment, Ayokunle said: ”The executive and legislature need to work together. When there is crisis between them like this, what they need to do is to put themselves together as partners in progress.”

He added that there should be a mutual understanding as they cannot afford to play with the future of Nigerians.

The cleric, however, said that everything that should be done must be done to make sure that the 2019 elections are free and fair.

Those who attended the forum were former governor of Anambra State and Vice Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Peter Obi.

Others include Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, who represented All Progressives Congress (APC), former Minister of Education, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili who is presidential candidate of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), among others.

NAN