KAITO ADMITS ELECTORATES DEMAND MONEY IN EXCHANGE OF VOTE
Sümi Baptist Church Kohima (SBCK) organized a “thanksgiving and felicitation service” for the newly Sümi legislators, who were elected to the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) during the Sunday service.
A press release by SBCK media cell informed that minister for Roads and Bridges, G Kaito Aye, while speaking on behalf of the Sümi legislators, appreciated SBCK for organising a dedicatory service for the Sümi legislators.
Elected for the fifth time from Satakha 36 A/C, Aye stated that the electoral battle he faced in 2018 and 2023 was the “toughest election”. The minister said the election was not tough because of the candidates contesting against him but that he was “taken away by the demand of money in exchange of vote as it was very high”.
According to SBCK, Aye also made an intriguing statement that the “election process in Nagaland was less of the battle between political parties but it was more about money power as it was the demand of the electorates in most constituencies.”
SBCK further informed that Aye, “honestly confessed that during the electioneering process, both the elected and candidates who lost, most of them might have gone against God’s will and he sincerely sought God’s forgiveness for wrong doings, intentionally or unintentionally.”
He also questioned, despite being a Christian state, how people are not heeding to the voice of the church as it was evident during the last election?
SBCK said Kaito called upon people to not go against church principles but value the teachings of the church on clean election and faithfully abide it. He also urged the church to continue propagating the value of clean election until its desired goal was achieved.
SBCK said minister Aye said that he does not intend to seek revenge to those who worked against him during the election as he does not believe in an “eye for an eye”.
He also called upon the judicious utilization of modern technology and social media platforms and called upon the younger people to use such platforms for bringing out overall reforms.
Kaito said “church should play an improving role in bringing every people together.”
In his sermon, SBCK Pastor, Khekavi K. Yeptho said that while many remained firm on the church message of clean election, many were swayed away by power and their weakness were exposed. He then called upon the believers to grow in faith.
He talked about the religious and political life of the Israelites during the prophetic days of Amos. He made a categorical comparison how the Israelites compromised morality and God wanted Amos to clean them. Pastor Khekavi drew an analogy of Naga society and said how money was becoming more powerful which is making Naga people compromise the truths resulting in utter chaos and confusion.
He also said a special prayer for the Sumi and all 60 elected lawmakers.
Earlier, in a welcome address, chairman, BoD SBCK, Y Kikheto Sema congratulated all the ten Sümi legislators and all 60 Naga legislators of 14th NLA on behalf of the church, and expressed optimism that their leadership would bring enormous changes in Nagaland state and in Sümi areas. Kikheto also shared the need to do away with violence and use of money power during electioneering process. He particularly took the example of peaceful election conduct in Angami areas and called upon the people to adapt good examples from them.
