The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, has urged the gubernatorial candidates in the forthcoming general election in Enugu State to shun any form of violence and personal attacks.

Onaga said this while receiving the gubernatorial candidates of the Labour Party, Chijioke Edeoga; All Progressive Congress, Uche Nnaji; Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Mbah; and All Progressive Grand Alliance Candidate, Frank Nweke Junior; at the Bishop’s Court in Enugu on Tuesday.

The cleric, who hosted the candidates alongside the Auxiliary Bishop, Most Rev. Ernest Obodo, urged them to rather convince the electorate by proffering solutions to the core issues affecting the state and avoid unnecessary smear campaigns against each other, thereby heating up the political atmosphere unnecessarily.

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Responding, the candidates who spoke one after the other thanked the church for the initiative to invite the gubernatorial candidates in Enugu State and collectively encouraged an atmosphere of peace and civility through the course of the campaign.

They also expressed their gratitude to each other for honouring the invitation and together reaffirmed their commitment to shun violence, propaganda, and calumny.

Collectively, they encouraged the electorates to shun violence, collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and be ready to vote for their preferred candidates in the 2023 general election.

Others at the meeting were the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Enugu State chapter, Rev. Emmanuel Edeh; and Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Agbilibeazu, representing the Bishop of Awgu Diocese.

Charles Ezugwu

The Star