Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, has expressed keen interest in the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal and its role in completing the unfinished work of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the February 25 election.
Following a special mass commemorating the 2023 World Communication Week of the Catholic Church at St. Gabriel’s Chaplaincy in Abuja, Cardinal Onaiyekan addressed the press, urging the judiciary to allow live telecasts of the petition tribunal, even if it deviates from established norms.
He emphasized that Nigerians eagerly await the outcome of the tribunal, stating, "All eyes are on the court. We exercised our voting rights and were directed to seek legal recourse. Now, we find ourselves in court, and the entire nation awaits the court's resolution. We trust that the court will complete the task left unfinished by INEC."
Cardinal Onaiyekan stressed the importance of transparency in the process, suggesting that any witnesses appearing before the tribunal should refrain from concealing pertinent information.
According to Vanguard, he asserted, "The judiciary must allow the public to witness the proceedings, even if it necessitates certain adjustments to their rules. Voters may not have the legal standing to challenge election results, but the candidates do. Therefore, the court proceedings must be broadcast live on television."
Turning his attention to communication, the Emeritus Archbishop acknowledged the indispensability of effective communication in conflict resolution and relationship-building.
Recognizing the influence of social media, he stated, "We can no longer ignore the presence of social media. Communication should foster unity rather than division, construction rather than destruction, and entertainment rather than sadness. This is the essence of our prayers today."
During the special mass, Rev. Fr. Michael Umoh, the National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, echoed these sentiments, describing Christ as the supreme communicator between God and humanity.
He emphasized that as the Church is an extension of Christ's mission, every Christian should strive to become an effective communicator, following the example set by Jesus, the perfect communicator.
Content created and supplied by: Healthmedical (via Opera News )
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