Is it proper for men of God to use the pulpit to canvass for votes or campaign for party candidates?

For sometimes, political activities have shifted to the pulpit as some clergymen have used their positions to advance the cause of political parties their candidates for this year’s general elections.

Recently, Rev Father Ejike Mbaka, the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministries, Enugu, stirred the hornets’ nest when he declared in his adoration sermon that President Goodluck Jonathan should quit office for incompetence.

Late last year, Dr. Ahmad Gumi, fearless cleric also said, All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari should not be entrusted with power.

In the same vein, other men of God at different locations toe the same line.

Against this backdrop, Saturday Sun sounded out some eminent Nigerians on this contentious issue. Excerpts:

BLAME GOVERNMENT FOR MIXING RELIGION WITH POLITICS –FALANA

Renowned legal luminary, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) said: “By virtue of section 10 of the Constitution, the State shall not adopt any official religion. That means that religion and the State are supposed to be separated. But members of the ruling class have adopted two official religions, that is, Islam and Christianity. President Goodluck Jonathan has turned the Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN) into an extension of the PDP. Twice, he has led pilgrims to Jerusalem with large delegation of Christian leaders. Every Sunday, the President takes the microphone from the priest to campaign and asks people to support his government. There is an official Chaplain and Chief Imam for the Villa, who are paid from the public purse. They claim to be speaking on behalf of God Almighty.

In the circumstance, some other clerics are also claiming to have been inspired by the Holy Spirit to expose the rot in the government. In Enugu State, the Anglican Bishop said that if the governorship candidate of the PDP is a Catholic faithful, the deputy should be an Anglican.

In Lagos State, the Christian community insisted on a Christian governor since the Muslims have been in power for 16 years. A ruling class without ideas and commitment to development has to divert the attention of the people by campaigning on the basis of religion and ethnicity.

The ongoing campaign against Rev Fr Mbaka is hypocritical and diversionary. Last November, Mrs. Patience Jonathan visited the priest for blessing and endorsement for her husband.

As citizens and members of the society, priests have the fundamental right to express their opinions on the affairs of the society. If their message is not accepted by members of their religious denominations, they will be discredited and rejected. To stop the involvement of clerics in politics, the government has to comply with the Constitution by making religion a private affair of all public officers. In other words, the secularity of the State has to be respected. But public officers, who go out of their way to mix religion with politics, should not complain if some priests decide to speak against their government.”

THEY SHOULD SHOW THE WAY FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE RIGHT CHOICES –SHEIK MUSA-TAFAWA BALEWA

Chairman, Council of Ulama, Bauchi State chapter, Sheik Dan Azumi Musa – Tafawa Balewa, disagreed with men of God who use the pulpit to canvass for votes or support party candidates. According to him, it is the duty of the clergy and the Ulama to lead, guide and to associate with truth and honesty and also dissociate themselves from cheats and what will plunge the society into a quagmire.

It is the duty of the people of God to enjoy what is good and also to prohibit what is good for them, for the society and for the general consumption.

I say, no, initially because you cannot just canvass for votes for somebody but you have to say if somebody is incompetent you say it because this is the true meaning of religion. Religion stands for peace, religions stand for truth, religions stand for trustworthiness and these are the attributes of a religious man and, therefore, if you are a religious man, you live by these attributes.

Also, if somebody is doing something against the society, it is the duty of men of God to guide the people.

What I am saying is that it is wrong for the people of God to keep quite when things are going wrong, but it is wrong for them to campaign for votes for politicians.

He has to guide people to make good choice but his personal interest should not be there but he should clearly show the way for people to make better choices.

ANYONE IS FREE TO COME TO MEN OF GOD –PRIMATE AYODELE

Primate Ayodele Elijah Babatunde, General Overseer of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Oke-Afa, Lagos, says: “Men of God are fathers to all, so anyone could come to them. All manner of politicians come to the church and consult men of God and we cannot turn them down.

Some go to mosque, others go to church and yet others visit babalawos. As for men of God to canvass for politicians or candidates and urge people to vote for them, I want to hold an indifferent opinion on that because it depends on the individual.”

CLERGYMEN SHOULD CAMPAIGN FOR WORTHY CANDIDATES –NWOSU

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial aspirant in Imo State and National Publicity Secretary of Nijiko Igbo, Brady Chijioke Nwosu, said, obviously yes. Of course, a pastor is a leader. Leaders influence their followers in many ways, especially, through advice, and punitive instruction, etc. This is a case of shepard and sheep, cleric and congregation, leadership and followership, etc. Perhaps, we take clue from Moses and Israelites, Mohammed and Muslims, Christ Jesus and apostles and disciples, in fact, the entire Christendom. These few mentioned great leaders and world changers became iconic because their followers believed and accepted them as their leaders and also become till today a faith medium to their followers’ salvation.

However, trickling it down to politics and electoral process, since the followers of these leaders believe in their leaders, there is every reason to agree that there is sense in leaders of all spheres of lives and in any organisation to either help followers make decision or advise or instruct followers to vote or enhance electoral victory for a particular person, group, etc in a contest.

THEY SHOULD BUILD THE CONSCIOUSNESS TO VOTE RIGHT –EMENALI

Executive Director, African Child Social Empowerment Centre, Dr. Bonaventure Enemali, has said that men of God are expected to be fully involved in electoral processes, but not to support party candidates.

The responsibility of men of God before, during and after election, is to build the mind of their congregation toward good governance and patriotism and as well ensure that their followers are well informed about the state of the nation as well as the implications of not voting the right candidate.

Canvassing for a candidate is not the best thing to do on the pulpit. However, men of God should always engage in the principles of constructive criticisms.

Religious leaders should be involved in constructive criticisms and also guide political leaders through prayers and consultation to build on their weaknesses and leverage on their strength and that of the country.

It is our duty as Christians and Muslims to participate in prayers for the elections and those who seek to gain power to lead. But are we to pray only and not vote? No. We’re to pray and vote rightly and not to canvass for party candidates.

YOUR SPEECH SHOULD BE EDIFYING – OKEI-ODUMAKIN

The President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Mrs. Joe Odumakin, said, there is a distinction between a sermon and an address to the nation. A sermon does not allow much latitude for expression the way an address does. Within the context of giving an address, a pastor is free to give his opinions for as long as it is not couched in “thus sayeth the Lord”.

The message by Reverend Mbaka could have been delivered in a more elegant way as a man of God. The attacks were too personal and a bit uncouth. Freedom of speech allows all men to speak their minds but when you say you are an oracle of God, your manner of speech should edify the person you represent. The warning to the nation by Pastor Bakare is in a different mode as it was not an attack on any person but a piece of advice to the whole nation to avoid a catastrophe. It is woeful for a man of God to see danger ahead and not sound the alarm.

It is unfair to lump the two together. While Rev Mbaka’s message confers an advantage for one party over another, Pastor Bakare’s advice is for the good of the entire country.

YOU ARE A REFEREE, YOU SHOULDN’T USE THE PULPIT FOR POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS –ERAGBIA

The General Overseer of Divine Appointment Ministry, Ilupeju, Lagos, Dr Ben Eragbai, has said that it is wrong for men of God to use the pulpit to advance the cause of any candidate or party.

Her said, as a man of God, you are a referee and father to all members of your congregation.

In the church, you find different political parties. So, it’s wrong. My own is to pray and ask God’s will to be done. I may support a particular candidate or party but I cannot pick the microphone and ask my members to vote for such a candidate or party.

I am an influential person. So, it’s risky. I can emphasize on the need to tackle corruption, taking governance to grassroots, job creation for our youths, and the need to diversify from oil to agriculture and ensure security of lives and property.

GOD WANTS GOOD PEOPLE TO LEAD HIS PEOPLE –IKOH

Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) House of Representatives candidate for Arochukwu/ Ohafia Constituency, Chief Ndukwe Ikoh, said it is not wrong for men of God to use the pulpit to support a political party and candidate.

According to him, it is in order. From Abraham to Jesus Christ, government and governance have been at the centre of God’s plans for a good world. In fact, God wants good people to lead His people. God hates lies, deceit, stealing, greed, corruption, fraud, etc. The preachers have been preaching it to the politicians but they have refused to change rather they attempt to even corrupt the preachers with their power. Evil triumphs when good people keep quiet.

So, preachers should take a stand openly and loudly now. They are change and reform ambassadors of God Almighty. This is the time of recompence in Nigeria. Christians are suffering, Muslims are suffering, all the masses are hopeless. Religion is for the living and not for the dead.

THEY OUGHT TO BE NEUTRAL –ARCHBISHOP OBIOKEKE

Founding General Overseer of God Pentecostal Mission (GPM churches worldwide), Iba, Lagos, Archbishop John Obiokeke, said, men of God ought to be neutral and pray for the people. They are fathers and their jobs are not political, they are supposed to pray for the people. I don’t support any party; I only give the prophecy that God gave to me. I can’t join politics, if I’m joining politics, I will quit the pulpit. On the pulpit you don’t need to campaign or advance the cause of nay candidate or political party. However, the men of God have right to speak the mind of God.

But the question is, many people who call themselves men of God, are they really men of God, a lot of them that prophesy, are they prophets?

Even if you are supporting a particular candidate, you can’t make it open on the pulpit, you need to pray for everybody. Even if they came to your church, you only pray for them and admonish them on the need for good governance, may be in your own mind, you have your choice. Don’t mind these men of God who are saying what God didn’t ask them to say. You can’t canvass for votes but if you are bold like me, you can talk about the ills in the government if God asks you to do so.

THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR OPINIONS AND PREFERENCES –ODUMAKIN

The spokesman for Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, said men of God are men first and as such are allowed to have their opinions and preferences. I am of the full persuasion that they are free to hold opinions and express them for as long as they follow the order of Paul who draws a line between his own thought and what God is saying.

Pastor Bakare has always been known to issue godly warnings and his own perception of issues to Nigeria for over 20 years. He warned before 1993 elections that NRC would lose and SDP would fail and in 1999 he told Nigeria that their joy over Obasanjo would be temporary, which also came to pass, calling Nigeria attention to the likely dangers of holding elections in the midst of the chaos in the country.

Rev Mbaka, on the other hand, had a rally to counter the rally he held in November. Where he confused people is where he said, the God who spoke to him in November is the same God who is speaking to him in December.

If he had said I changed my mind based on my feeling at this point, he would still have been in order.

SENSITISE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN POLITICAL PROCESS –NMESIRONYE

Deacon Charles Nmesironye of Winners Chapel Church, Bauchi State, said, it is not right for a man of God to use the pulpit to canvass for votes for a particular party or candidate, but it may be right to use the pulpit to sensitise worshippers on the need to participate in political activities like coming out to vote and voting whosoever is their choice according to their individual conviction.

To stay on the pulpit to canvass for a candidate or a political party is being partisan, and it is not supposed to be so.

You sensitise them to participate according to their will based on what they know about the person but not to mention any party or candidate.

 The Saturday Sun publication