By Emeka Odogwu
The pioneer Coordinator, Directorate for Civic and Political Affairs (DCPA) of the Diocese on the Niger, Anglican communion Ven Dr Emma Ukpeke, has warned over selling of votes by the electorates.
Ven Dr Ukpeke advised the people not to sell their votes, saying that the sale of one’s vote amounted to deliberate sale of one’s birthright.
He spoke Saturday, February 22, 2025 when the directorate organised a one-day brainstorming session at the All Saints’ Cathedral, Onitsha, during which new members and executives of all political parties in the state articulated a blueprint for the November, 2025 election.
The new Coordinator of the directorate, the Rev Canon Dr Ifeanyi Aniakor, had in a brief chat shortly after the gathering remarked that the session was a veritable leverage platform of the DCPA for the political enlightenment of the grassroots.
‘The directorate is a grassroots mobilization for christians, especially, the Anglicans, through the church and the streets.
‘It is also a means through which we give the people political awareness, civic rights and responsibilities.
DCPA is a grassroots mobilization platform for all political parties in the state”, he said. According to him, ‘Diocesan and archdeaconry political coordinators of all the political parties are assisting to develop the parties so that politicians and their parties can make judicious use of the directorate”.
The DCPA Coordinator passionately appealed to the people of the state, particularly Anglicans, to sit up and stop being apathetic to politics.
‘Definitely, it’s time to sit up. The Church, especially, the Anglican, is losing out.
‘We need to come in and know what is going on in the political arena. We should take advantage of existing political assets in and around us, because we are losing out”, Rev Canon Aniakor lamented.
Earlier the Director of Communications, Diocese on the Niger, Sir Oselloka Offoh, had in a short speech commended the DCPA for its invaluable political assignments, urging the coordinator and his executives not to relent.
He called on the diocesan parishioners to take political involvements seriously in order not to allow themselves be treated as second class citizens.
Also, the Deputy Director, Lay DCPA, Sir Victor Ndu, reemphasized the role of the directorate, adding that the day’s gathering was one major avenue through which the people are politically enlightened.
He called on the diocesan parishioners to come out in large numbers, not only to belong to political parties of their choice, but also to dutifully come out on the day of election and vote.
The organization pledged to give all political parties in the state equal campaign opportunities.
The over 10-year old DCPA was said to have taken the novel turn in order for it to give sound political education to the grassroots as well as allow all parties in the state solid platforms for electioneering.
Ven Dr. Ukpeke concluded: ‘This is one of the programmes of this directorate: to build strong structures in time in readiness for the 2025 election in the state.’
He reminded the people that political power rested in their hands, the reason for which he encouraged them to take political activities seriously by actively identifying with any parties of their choice and voting accordingly.
