By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Bishop of Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Abakaliki, Rt. Rev. Lawson Elom, on Sunday warned citizens of Ebonyi State against selling their voter cards for N10,000 to politicians ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Elom made this known while addressing over 3,000 worshipers at an induction ceremony at Amananta community, in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Elom said: “Don’t allow yourselves to be used. They will come and collect your PVCs and then give you N10,000. Many of you have sold your PVCs but if I ask you people now, none of you will agree.

“Time has come, it’s only this December, then, we enter into 2023 general election. Do not sell your PVCs for peanut. Use your PVCs to elect someone who will lead us well and not someone who will rule us with iron hands.

“Use your PVCs to elect someone that you will not regret tomorrow. Do well to elect someone who will lead us well, from the lowest position to the presidential position.

“Our prayer is that, there will be no war. Even though there are threats of war, there are threats of desolation of the country, there are threats of destruction but God will not allow it happen.

“We will be alive to see that someone who will lead us to the promise land is elected to be our President. Vote according to your conscience, so that God will not judge you on the last day, that you sold your PVCs for ten thousand naira.”

Responding, Uche Nwafor who spoke to journalists shortly after the induction said: “Selling of PVC is a betrayal of trust. It’s just like one sealing his or her birthright for a piece of meal. That’s what Esau did and lost his birthright. People who sell their PVCs are by themselves selling themselves for slavery. If you collect ten thousand naira, will that amount of money serve you for two weeks?

“And then, you sell out your conscience and probably get someone who supposed not to be on the seat elected. And you will suffer for the next four years. If you ask me, I will call that a total foolishness. This should be discouraged in strong terms.”

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