With pivotal, potentially game-changing elections just weeks away, there is a temptation to say that, “all is fair, in love and war.” The temptation has to be resisted. For the secular base upon which a republic is constituted is sine-qua-non for its continued existence.
Nigeria has no intention whatsoever of ever becoming a theocracy. This means that there must be a careful demarcation between religion and politics. In this connection we must learn from the position of the founding fathers of America’s enduring democracy.
The founding fathers of the United States were unambiguous in advocating and putting measures in place to separate religion from politics. A key sensible reason is the perceived need to protect religion from the corrupting effect of politics. Our Men of God must have this in mind.
Their role has to be to insist that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and assorted agencies must be transparent and keep to the straight and narrow. They must be stabilising agents and ensure that their flock shun pecuniary inducements and vote according to their conscience.
On their part, the politicians must stick to the real issues. We all know that this centres on security, the economy as well as general well-being. Religion and ethnicity have nothing to do with today’s general state of unease. The facetious ‘will of God’ mantra must also be shunned. In today’s stormy weather what is needed are realistically costed solutions to today’s economic problems and social dysfunction.
The Men of God must insist on this!
