The pilgrimage of religious leaders to the political dirty waters of Nigeria is not a recent affliction. It has been with us and shall continue to be until we are able to find a mean between the extremes of political rascality and religious bigotry. Religion cannot and should not be seen to be playing too much of a role in politics even though there is no time that politics and religion will totally divorce. Politics often seek the support of religion and there have been no national elections around the world where religion has not been covertly or overtly a factor of relevance. In the United States of America, for instance, the Republican Party employs the antics of religion. In the 2004 presidential election in the US, the defeat of John Kerry by George W. Bush was generally regarded as ‘religious victory.’ Though religion is necessary for every society to moderate the unspeakable acts of men in politics, it also has its obnoxious side effects- intolerance, divisiveness and persecution as we currently have it in Nigeria. To that extent, politics in Nigeria has become a means of disordering our common good under the pretext of religion.
Religion should give birth to all that is noble, expedient, lawful and essential in society. Therefore, religious leaders should, as a matter of course and fact, speak out from time to time but under no circumstances should they use their religious positions to ungodly influence the political direction of the country. The positions of religious leaders should be applicable and relevant to citizens, religious affiliation notwithstanding. This is the only way it is morally right and expedient to publicly intervene in the political process. Any religious intervention that does not seek to link our concern to our common aspiration as a people should be abhorred.
What all of this means is that the message of religious leaders to their members and non-members as well should be reassuring and in good faith. I believe a number of religious leaders are actually seeking the good of the land in their quest to moderate political activities with spiritual variables. It is, unfortunate, however, that it seems some religious leaders across the religious divide, are making religion to unite with politics in an unholy attempt to obtain and monopolize political power. The harm which the situation could cause is no doubt undisputed.
Whereas it is in order to educate the congregation on the need to vote at elections in order to have credible leaders of choice, it is foolhardy and woolly thinking to prime members to vote in line with the dictates oftheir religious leaders.Religious leaders should come to the understanding that their members may be spiritually homogeneous but certainly are politically and socially heterogeneous. They should, therefore, not be expected to heed the admonition of their leaders hook line and sinker in political matters especially that politics in Nigeria is bereft of any value.
Politics in Nigeria is deceitful and will always subdue religion and use it for its interest. The domination of religion over politics and society which it enjoyed during the medieval period is over. What we need at all times (before, during and after elections) are formidable preachers (be they pastors, bishops or imams) whose sermons are fierce and hard-hitting, especially for the spiritually non-conformist political class. We know the challenges of the political class- shifty, untrustworthy, unreliable, violent, cruel, impatient, revengeful and ambitious where money is a key variable. They can’t resist money or anything denominated in it, especially easy money. They need sermons preached to them about their objectionable character, whims, and caprices. Religious leaders should preach to warm politicians to tremble at the word of God because any human endeavour that ignores God is bound to fail. The sermons do not have to be political in content but should be such that could lead politicians to be covered in glory in their activities.The influence of the sermons should be strong enough to cause changes in matters relating to politics and political offices.I know a few religious leaders who already preach thundering sermons against all manner of political lunacy and irresponsibility.This is encouraged to continue.
It is fifty years after attaining independence, yet Nigeria is not in any way close to the twilight of political and religious fanaticism. The country is in a depressed state with no order and sense of national pride. The incomprehensible idol of primordial political life-style needs to be uprooted for Nigerians to live in peace with one another. Today, I make an altar call on religious leaders to rise and lend credence to the soul of religion and spirituality by building divine norms and values into the political affairs of Nigeria. The time to be ignorant and merely sail with the wind along with politicians, famous or notorious is over. They are a collective monster of ingratitude that should be resisted spiritually to a revolving degree.
Francis Iyoha
Prof. Iyoha is of the Department of Accounting, Covenant University
Email: [email protected]
