Catholic Bishop of Warri Diocese, Most Rev. John Okeoghene Afareha, on Wednesday, tasked Nigerians, particularly Christians, not only to pray fervently for divine intervention ahead of the 2023 general election but also to use their Permanent Voters’ Card to vote wisely at the polls.

He noted with concern that as arrangements for the 2023 general elections gather momentum, the nation must seek the face of the Lord for peaceful, free and fair polls that will usher in God-fearing leaders who will hearken to the voice of God and the people.

The Catholic Bishop while addressing a press conference at the Chancery office of the Bishop, Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Council, as part of activities lined up for his 75 years birthday celebration and 25 years as bishop, lamented the menace of ritual killings, kidnapping, rape and other social vices that have eaten deep into the fabrics of the country urging the Christiandom to see all these as challenges that must be surmounted at all costs.

He noted however that the church had not relented in teachings against crime, pointing out that in Catholic schools, there are moral teachings aside from the usual curriculum where the students are taught to be of better behaviour in the society.

Also speaking at the forum, the Vicar, Public Relations, Catholic Diocese of Warri and Chairman Planning Committee for the 75th birthday celebration, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Christopher Ekabo, explained that the Bishop’s 75th birthday celebration will hold on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at the Mother of Redeemer Catholic Church, Effurun, near Warri.

The Vicar applauded the laudable developmental insight of Bishop Afareha, noting that from three deaneries, he has been able to increase the numbers to twenty-five deaneries and five Episcopal Regions.

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He added that since the assumption of office as the substantive Bishop of the Diocese, the presbyterate of the diocese has also increased from about 80 to over 166 and parishes from 80 to 156 amid other spiritual growth.

Ekabo further noted that the bishop had also put in place a modern Bishop Court, Jubilee Conference and Retreat Center, Training of Catholic Priests both within and outside Nigeria, Catechetical Training Institute, Oleh, Establishment of Catholic schools in parishes, Financial Program for the physically challenged, the elderly and the formation of an indigenous religious order for women.