By Daniel Tyokua
The Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Very Rev. Fr. Patrick Tor Alumuku, has advised the federal government and security agencies to make electoral reforms and security of lives and property top priority.
The cleric spoke during his 65th birthday and thankgiving mass at St. Louis Catholic Church, EFAB Global Estate, Mbora-Abuja, recently.
According to him: “Nigerians and the international community are currently observing to see what we shall do, probably mocking us for the show of shame we came out with during the 2023 general elections, which falls below pay from all indices.
“The blame for the flaws should not be heaped solely on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) because it appears they were armtwisted to do what they did and these were most probably with active support and connivance of the government in power then.
“We should be careful in Nigeria not to plunge this country to an electoral cataclysm, because none knows who would be negatively impacted.
“The 2023 elections turned out to be a far cry from public expectations and promises made by the INEC and security agencies.
“This is too bad for a fledgling economy like ours and we are now facing the realities of that faux pas in terms of spiralling inflation and unparalleled insecurity.
“Security agencies must therefore at all times, be seen to be neutral and fair to everybody and institutions, including especially during elections. “It is absolutely and totwlly wrong for people to nurse the notion, nay, obtain incontrovertible evidence or witneas security agencies engaging or supporting or standing behind people perpetrating electoral malpractices or be percirved to be partial, and worse if seen to be physically engaging or supporting acts of electoral malfeasance as was witnessed during the last general elections.
“Good governance must be anchored on true democracy which must guarantee free, fair and credible election, with high assurance of quality adjudication by the judiciary should that he the cade, which unfortunately too is lacking.
“I would also urge the federal government to quietly probe the academic credentials and NYSC status of all public officials currently holding public offices at the legislative, executive and judiciary.
“What we unfortunately hear about people submitting fake or fabricated results and NYSC discharge certificates to secure public offices are demeaning the prestige of our country including internationally, which will further worsen the rating of Nigeria and treatment meted to Nigerians at international entry points globally.
“This is too bad and must be halted before it becomes another social malaise like the insecurity we are now experiencing across the country, which could have been nipped in the bud had we better handled such law enforcement issues as they ought to have been handled.
“This is where our security agencies must change their pattern and operational methodology.
“They must urgently embark on visible, not rhetorical reforms, which must be measurable and physically felt by the ordinary citizens”.
Eulogising the celebrant, Sir Vincent Ukaoma, Vice-Chairman, Parish Pastoral Council, in his welcome address, described Fr. Alumuku as “a man of many parts, a priest, writer, radio and television director, a lecturer, spiritual director, a man of few words, a great achiever, a Vincentian and an exceptional gentleman”.
He requested for the building of a house in any of the estates in Abuja where Alumuku would devote the rest of his life as a retiree to counselling and preparing for his creator, stressing that the wisdom, peace and understanding shown to the Catholic community by Fr. Alumiku remains legendary.
Also Chairman of the occasion, Engr. (Sir) Emmanuel Mbaka, who is the Chairman of Platinum Mortgage Bank, showered encomiums on Fr. Alumuku, describing him as “a quintessential, highly cerebral gentleman and priest, who has impacted positively to the residents in the 20 years he has served God in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Distinguished Guest of Honour and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, represented by a Director at the OSGF, said of Fr. Alumuku “is an exceptionally hardworking and highly intellectual Catholic priest, spanning from his works at the Vatican, Rome and back in Nigeria, where he never shirked to prove that indeed God has blessed him with great wisdom, unparalleled frienship with peope and good health”.
Father of the Day, Prince (Engr.) Arthur Eze, described Fr. Alumuku as “a very peaceful and hardworking man who has been toiling in God’s vineyard, positively touching humanity in several capacities”.
The Supreme Subordinate President, Knight of St. John International, described Alumuku as “a man of unimpeachable integrity, who loves and leaves peace behind everywhere he had been posted to serve”, assuring of the support and cooperation of the Knights to the priest.
