ABUJA, Nigeria – A revered figure in the Catholic Church, Emeritus Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has pointedly urged the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Nigeria to bring transparency to the conclusion of the electoral process that was started ‘halfway’ by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the election of February 25.
On Sunday, May 21, 2023, during a special Mass to commemorate the 2023 World Communication Week of the Catholic Church held at St. Gabriel’s Chaplaincy, Onaiyekan, in a discussion with reporters, expressed the national sentiment of a nation’s gaze fixed on the tribunal’s proceeding.
The revered Cardinal advocated for a radical step towards transparency by recommending live broadcasts of the petition tribunal – an unprecedented move in Nigeria’s judiciary history.
“As the petition tribunal proceeds, Nigerians are waiting with bated breath to see what the outcome will be,” the Cardinal said. “We tried our best to vote; we were told to go to court. We are now in court. All eyes are on the court. We have trust in the court that they will finish the job that INEC did halfway.”
Onaiyekan stressed the necessity for transparency in the process, and suggested a challenging yet vital standpoint: if witnesses have anything to say that the public should not hear, then it should not be spoken.
“It is in the interest of the judiciary to allow the people to see what is happening, even if it means adjusting their rules. Voters don’t have the locus standi in court to challenge election outcomes. The matter is left to the candidates. That’s why it’s important that the court proceedings are seen live on TV,” the Archbishop contended.
In the 2023 World Communication Week context, Onaiyekan highlighted the crucial role communication plays in conflict resolution and building relationships, acknowledging the influence of social media.
“Communication is meant to build and not to destroy; to unite and not divide; to entertain and not to sadden. This is what we are praying for today,” he said.
Reflecting on the importance of communication, the National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Umoh, emphasized the religious mandate of effective communication.
He noted that the Church, as an extension of the mission of Christ, requires that “every Christian must strive to develop the skill of being an effective communicator after the model of Jesus, the perfect communicator.”
