Dimapur, Nov. 2 (EMN): With the sole objective to bring about positive change and brighter future, Clean Election Movement Core Committee of the Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC) conducted a seminar on ‘Clean election’ at Jakhama Baptist Church on October 30.
Delivering sermon during Sunday morning worship service, pastor and convenor of core committee, Atuo Whuorie, stated that children of God should remain as ‘the light of the world at all times.’
Reiterating on the sole objective of ABCC on clean election was to bring a positive change and a brighter future, Whuorie has underscored the need to educate citizens on the illegal conduct during election starting from the roots.
To achieve the goals of clean election, he has called to stop buying of votes, demanding money from candidates, forcing clan, khel, village, and family to declare support for a particular candidate, distribution of money by political parties, distribution of alcohol, setting up camps, feasting, using the support of anti-social elements, house to house campaign, spreading false propaganda etc.
It was followed with a seminar wherein the core committee member, Azonuo Ciesotsu, highlighted the activities of ABCC Core Committee, while Kepelhoutuo Chiisi stressed on the importance of involving every qualified voter into a mass movement to eradicate illegal conduct and pastor Sielie Pienyii stressed on the responsibilities of the church workers to stand firm and guide their church members to follow election guidelines to ensure clean election.
Esabel Solo stressed on how the youth could stand firm towards promoting clean election in order to build a better society.
Representing the host church, Kezhokhoto Savi said, “The world suffers a lot not because the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of the good people.” In this regard, he pointed out that many good people so-called educated or officers or church leaders remain silent during election as they considered election as a dirty game and allowed violence especially on polling day.
He added that time has come for every citizen to realise that one’s vote decides the fate of five years and beyond. He, therefore, stated that it is important to vote for a candidate who has genuine concern for public, honest, qualified, competent, bearing strong moral responsibility and ready to sacrifice.
“This is possible only when the conduct of election is clean and the best opportunity would be the upcoming state general assembly election,” Savi added.