Catholic Activists Want Nigerians to Vote for Candidates Opposed to Christian Persecution

“Will you commit to ending Boko Haram terror in Nigeria? CitizenGo poses, and adds, “Do you regret the huge Christian massacre that has already happened in Nigeria due to religious intolerance?”

“Will you oppose any attempt to de-register or shut down Nigerian churches?” the Catholic activists ask.

The activists also want the political candidates to commit to ensuring that "sexual diversity" advocacy groups are not allowed access to schools as outside partners.

“Will you ensure that parents have the right to make decisions about children's education, including sex education? Do you support banning radical comprehensive sexuality education in Nigerian Schools?” the CitizenGo members ask.

The activists also want the presidential candidates in Nigeria to pledge to support legislation that protects the freedom of conscience of medical professionals and ensures that they cannot be forced “to kill people to keep their licenses and jobs”.

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Presidential candidates in Nigeria must also pledge to protect the lives of all unborn children, CitizenGo has said.

On the enhancement of family values, the activists ask, “Will you work to protect the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman?”

They also express their support for candidates who respect the sanctity of life, saying, only those who support legislation that protects Nigerian citizens from medically assisted euthanasia and assisted suicide should be voted in.

Political candidates should also be firm in opposing legislation that introduces “wombs for sale” through surrogacy in Nigeria.

Nigerians must also only vote for people who will oppose the registration of atheism in Nigeria.

Ideal candidates are also those who will oppose the legalization of bhang, cocaine, and other harmful drugs in the country. They must also express a commitment to support the ban on pornography in Nigeria.

CitizenGo has announced that it will be mailing a questionnaire to candidates and asking them to respond ahead of the general elections that are to see the electorate in Nigeria vote for the President and Vice President and members of the Senate and House of Representatives.

The February 7 petition is an appeal for the support of the activists in pushing the political candidates in Nigeria to end religious persecution and to promote family values.

In the appeal, the Catholic activists say, “Please help now… By signing our petition, you will show the candidates that many citizens expect them to demonstrate a commitment to the values that are important to us.”

“The future of Nigeria is in the hands of active citizens like you. Show the candidates what concerns are important to you and assure them that you will not vote for them if they are not prepared to shape policy in your interests,” Catholic activists under their umbrella body, CitizenGo, appeal in their petition launched on February 7.

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Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.