Electioneering – the jostle for the plum political offices in Abuja and the second tier portfolios in the states – has permeated the church, as Christians are nearly as divided as the rest of the populace on who to vote for. TEMITOPE OJO examines why Christians are as concerned about civil governance as they are about the Bible.
It is 13 days to the presidential ballot on February 14, the tightest since 1999. Simply put, the result is down to the wire. The environment is charged with all kinds of toxic volleys: friends making provocative statements on social media, families divided on whom to endorse.
While the political class engages in a bitter struggle for power, the election has equally unsettled the church in Nigeria, so much that Christians are divided along political lines.
The rift came to the fore when All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, picked Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a senior pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), as running mate.
Jonathan’s ‘Osinbajo problem’
Reports have it that President Goodluck Jonathan became so ruffled that he told a group of Pentecostal pastors at a meeting to help him avert what he feared could be his defeat at the ballot. The main agenda of the meeting in Abuja was on how to solve the “Osinbajo problem”.
The pastors were led by Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church, also known as Winners’ Chapel.
Jonathan reportedly confessed that “Osinbajo is my problem … everything was okay until the APC picked Osinbajo.”
Oyedepo was said to have assured Jonathan that “starting from today”, they would use every device possible, including social media, the pulpit, and influence peddling, to support the president and campaign against the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket.
The pastors had reportedly earlier met and agreed on what they would tell Jonathan before they parleyed with him in Abuja.
Sources said some Pentecostal pastors allegedly suggested at the pre-meeting that they would express to Jonathan their fears about insecurity in the North East, where Boko Haram kills Christians and other Nigerians.
But Oyedepo was reportedly opposed the idea, insisting that the meeting was to encourage and strengthen Jonathan ahead of the vote, and not to discuss issues of concern to the majority of Nigerians.
While some of the pastors were shocked and disappointed that Oyedepo would not allow them to raise important issues bothering most Nigerians, they decided to keep silent, so as not to be seen as spoilsports.
After the meeting with Jonathan, the pastors congregated again on the same day to devise their campaign against Buhari and Osinbajo, with the main scheme being to label the ticket as Islamist.
Some suggested that they can influence Christians with the argument that the post of vice president is not an effective one, and that having a Christian in it makes no difference, although the Constitution makes it next in rank to the president.
Before this, Jonathan had received the endorsement of the Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Paul Enenche.
After the meeting, pastors of the churches represented at the meeting started using the pulpit to achieve the goals set out at the meeting.
Some members of these churches disclosed that their pastors have been raising prayer points against anyone who plans to Islamise Nigeria.
RCCG urges PVC collection
RCCG pastors have also been encouraging their members to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) so they can vote “for their own”.
At a branch of RCCG on Acme Road, Ogba, Lagos, who gave her name as simply as Christiana said she was shocked when the pastor asked those who were yet to get their PVCs to make their way to the altar during Sunday service.
Although the pastor encouraged them to collect the card, she recounted, the undertone was for them to “vote for one of them”.
She wondered why the pastor had to go to that length, because she observed that most of those who came out felt embarrassed.
Colleagues take on Mbaka
Charismatic Catholic Priest and Head of Adoration Ministry in Enugu State, Rev Fr. Ejike Mbaka, stirred the hornets’ nest with his New Year day outburst on the state of the nation, which dovetailed into a call for Nigerians to vote out Jonathan.
In reaction, other clerics from the Catholic Communion in Nigeria demanded sanction against Mbaka.
The Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, chided the young and vibrant Mbaka, saying he went overboard in his sermon by insinuating that the Jonathan administration is plagued with “bad luck” and poor performance.
Other orthodox pastors and their Pentecostal colleagues – like Enoch Adeboye, Ayo Oritsejafor, Chris Okotie, Tunde Bakare, Elijah Ayodele, and Moses Iloh – are yet to take a stand publicly.
But the questions on the minds of most Nigerians are, where does this political division leave the Nigerian church after the election?
Declare your position, Alawode tells Buhari
Bishop Samuel Alawode, General Overseer of Maranatha Ministries International, said although the political stand of church leaders has not helped their followers, the major fear the leaders have against Buhari’s candidacy is the suspicion of his religious extremism.
“It’s rather unfortunate the situation we’ve found ourselves in. The major reason some Christian leaders have spoken against Buhari’s ambition is his antecedents and the fear of religious intolerance.
“No doubt, Buhari enjoys the support of many Christians today but I would have expected that just as he hosted a press conference to clear the certificate saga, he should come out with a categorical statement on the likelihood of him Islamising the country if he is elected.
“The same way they are going about campaigning on things he would do, let him tell us what he will not do. This will make Christian supporters more comfortable.
“It will be of great dissatisfaction to the Christian faith if he wins and then goes against them; because if he wins, their vote would have a lot to do with it, especially in the South West.
“This is the fear of some Christian leaders. That is why some are saying that they’d rather continue with Jonathan than run into religious chaos.”
Oluwafemi counsels Holy Spirit discernment
Rev. Moses Oluwafemi of Consolation of Christ Christian Centre, Akute, Ogun State, added that “one of the impressions we have as Christians is that Buhari may come in with an Islamic agenda.
“Even the fact that they have chosen a pastor as a proposed vice president has not helped. It was because (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo told them that having a Muslim-Muslim ticket will not help the party that they chose Osinbajo.
“Moreover, what is the constitutional role of a vice president? Osinbajo is just a figurehead. They are just trying to use Osinbajo to pacify the church.
“That is why the opposition is using propaganda against some of the Christian leaders, especially with what is making the rounds of what Oyedepo reportedly said during the visit of Jonathan to his church. I understand that nothing like that was said by Oyedepo.
“In my own understanding, when Buhari said he will stop Boko Haram activities, what I understand by that is that he has a link with them. That is why the church is being careful so that we don’t clamour for a change that will later haunt the Body of Christ.”
Oluwafemi counsels the discernment of the Holy Spirit and sensitivity.
“Osinbajo is not a politician. The present situation calls for sensitivity. If we say we want change, let us know where the change is taking us.”
However, Fr. Chris Nnamani (OP), a Dominican friar, countered that religion should have nothing to do with politics; rather, religious leaders are to take a stand on issues that affect human dignity and fairness to all while casting their votes.
“What we are doing is to inform church members to vote for the person who will promote human dignity and not destroy the unity of the nation. That is why the Catholic Communion (in the United States) aligns with a party that does not promote abortion and gay marriage,” he stressed.
Oritsejafor mum, Kumuyi speaks out
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) National President, Ayo Oritsejafor, is yet to speak openly on the issue.
But Deeper Life Bible Church Pastor, William Kumuyi, has advised Nigerians to “look at the manifesto of politicians and pick the ones that will deliver, that will help the people. We should not pick just because of religion or ethnicity.
“If we vote for the right people, this country will be great. Our politicians must always remember that they are in office for the people.”
Ajakaye disputes division
Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Ekiti, Rev. Felix Ajakaye, dismissed the argument that the election has polarised the church because only individual pastors have allowed themselves to be bought over by politicians.
“The church is not divided. The Church of God is still standing strong and united. In all the show that is going on, have you heard that the Catholic Church was mentioned?
“No, we don’t take part in all those kinds of meetings and fraternising with politicians. All we do is educate our members so they can vote for the candidate of their choice.
“We also recommend that Nigerians should foster issue-based, violence-free elections. There is no reason for the church to be divided,” Ajakaye argued.
