Should clerics get involved in politics?

President Muhammadu Buhari at the Interfaith Initiative for Peace Conference in Abuja in October, advised religious leaders in Nigeria to eschew partisan politics ahead of the 2019 general elections, saying those engaging in political controversies among them risk losing public respect. Daily Trust Saturday sought opinions. Pst. Benedict Aliku, Restoration Bible Church and Ministries, Kaduna […]

President Muhammadu Buhari at the Interfaith Initiative for Peace Conference in Abuja in October, advised religious leaders in Nigeria to eschew partisan politics ahead of the 2019 general elections, saying those engaging in political controversies among them risk losing public respect. Daily Trust Saturday sought opinions.

Pst. Benedict Aliku, Restoration Bible Church and Ministries, Kaduna

I don’t believe a cleric should be involved in politics. Clerics can encourage their followers to be good and law-abiding politicians. The office of a religious leader comes with many responsibilities, and as such, being part of politics will affect his/her spiritual and moral responsibilities. They are to receive from God in order to give to the people, while politicians receive from the government in order to give to the people. Nigeria was better when clerics were not involved in governance. They are supposed to checkmate the politicians and that is why Nigeria is down today because nobody is checking the politicians. There may be no change except we the clerics return back to our God-given responsibilities.

 

Labani Kehinde, Charismatic Renaissance International Church, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

Yes, clerics should get involved in politics because their absence is getting the wrong leaders on seat. If we get involved, then we will intentionally build the kind of leaders that will drive home our vision.

Christians have been shying away from politics because of what people would say, forgetting that David and Daniel among others in the Bible were politicians of their time and they were relevant. Until we start participating, we will keep complaining while we have the influence to dictate what we want. There is also need for us to work as a team to produce the right leaders with the vision of transforming the nation and not leaders that start and abandon critical projects.

 

Imam Tanimu Musa, Ungwar Rimi Mosque, Kaduna

Yes, a cleric has the right to participate in political activities, either to be elected or to elect a person of his/her choice. Religious leaders serve as guardians to the people. They are supposed to show the right way to their followers.

Clerics are leaders in their communities in terms of religion, so, if they don’t participate in political issues, people may view politics as an evil activity. Their participation will encourage their followers to actively get involved in the political affairs of their local government, state and country at large.

 

Pst. Yohanna Y.D Buru, General Overseer, Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Fellowship, Kaduna

My answer is absolutely no. My reasons for saying no is obvious from the Holy Bible, both from the New and Old Testaments. In the Old Testament, it was stated clearly that the office of a priest or prophet is a religious or spiritual one and not a political office. The religious leaders were given the opportunity to only guide the political leaders on spiritual and physical matters in order to lead God’s people aright through the teaching of God’s word and prophetic messages, to both the leaders and the led. Secondly, God made a clear demarcation between sacred and the secular, whereby the secular was headed by kings while the spiritual was headed by priests or prophets. Although Israel was governed by God through judges and the system of government was known as Theocracy. But after the people of Israel asked for a king, God made the demarcation between sacred and secular. This separation between the secular and sacred continued through to New Testament, in which God assured us that all authorities are God’s (Romans 8:1-7). To be called into pastoral ministry does not involve politics as it is stated in the holy book that religious leaders are called into ministry leadership and gift for the edification and unity of the body of Christ. Above all, this calling and gift for ministry leadership is meant to help in shaping the politicians and political system for the good of all. So, if religious leaders are involved in politics, who will guide the politicians to do right before men and God?

 

Sheikh Dr. Khalid Aliyu, JNI National Secretary, Plateau State

This is a wide question. It depends on the angle. For a cleric to become an active partisan politician is unacceptable because he/she cannot merge the two points of view together. They are conflicting; you cannot do that because they belong to two different camps. As a citizen, he can comment on political issues as long as it is not partisanship. Some religious leaders today have lost focus; they are even more partisan than the politicians themselves. Therefore, a cleric should maintain neutrality and look at all as his own. He should provide spiritual and moral guidance and allow the politicians do their work.

 

Imam Onike Abdulazeez, Chief Imam, NASFAT Worldwide, Lagos

There is nothing wrong in participating in politics. Our noble prophet SAW was a political leader, an administrator and a commander, so there is nothing wrong with that as long as it does not affect your calling.

As a cleric, you can vote and be voted for. In fact, clerics are going to be better leaders in terms of administering justice, good governance and addressing issues that affect the welfare of the people. NASFAT as a society does not and will not involve in partisan politics, but we regularly encourage our members as individuals to participate actively in politics so that they can be able to choose leaders they feel have the capacity to deliver the dividend of democracy to all. The immediate past governor of Osun State is a member, board of trustees of NASFAT; so as individuals, they can belong to any party of their choice and should be active politically.