2023: It’s A Sin Not To Cast Your Vote, Bishop Oyejola Tells Nigerians

—Says Catholic Bishops Didn’t Take Money From Any Presidential Candidate

The Prelate of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, Most Rev. John Akin Oyejola has debunked the rumour milling round the country on the alleged financial inducements of Catholic Bishops by a presidential candidate, saying “we can not involve ourselves in such unholy act”.

Bishop Oyejola stated that Catholic Bishops in the country didn’t take money from any Presidential Candidate, “what we are doing is to encourage our people to go out enmass and cast their votes, which is their civic responsibility.”

Bishop Oyejola declared that “it is wickedness for you not to cast your votes for any candidate of your choice, if you don’t vote, you won’t have the right to complain later if they are doing what they like, therefore go out and cast your vote to alleviate Nigeria’s problem.”

The Osogbo Catholic Chief Shepherd berated those who use to give out money or collect money from politicians before casting their votes.

He enthused that vote buying and selling are capital sins for anybody who involves involves in it. He enjoined Catholic faithful to move away from such a sin during the electioneering exercise.

Bishop Oyejola while giving his post-communion comments on Sunday morning to round off the annual Oke-Maria pilgrimage at Otan-Ayegbaju, Boluwaduro Local Government Area of Osun State, however expressed optimism in the future of the country, saying “I could foresee that the future of Nigeria is bright. Don’t be discouraged, it shall be well with us in the country.”

Speaking on the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bishop Oyejola noted that “it is not a bad policy, it would reduce reckless spending and abnormal hoarding of the currency by some people in the country.

He enthused that the policy would surely reduce corruption among politicians.

He however called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to make the new notes available in the banks to alleviate the economic problem currently biting the country.

The Bishop who commended the resilience of the Catholic faithful who thronged the annual pilgrimage in spite of the fuel and financial scarcity in the country charged Nigerians not to relent in prayers, which he said is the master key to solve the socio- economic problems in the country.