The admonition against the use of the pulpit for partisan politics is important which speaks directly to the danger of using religion to promote political tension,This despicable practice has lately become a regular habit of some clerics, much against the law and core religious principles; and it is only proper that religious leaders concerned be made to realise the folly of their action. Religion, in this instance the Church, certainly has a crucial role to play in checking the excesses of a bad government, or promoting the welfare of the people, but a line must be drawn between that role and flagrantly using places of worship for political campaigns.
As political campaigns takes on a frenzied dimensions,the use of religious leaders and worship centres as campaign spots is a development that should be discouraged if not totally condemned. For an already religiously polarised country, political campaigns of this order are capable of unimaginable catastrophic consequences.
Furthermore, the essential nature of religion as a relationship between man and a supreme being, makes religion a spiritual and private matter since there are many avenues to expressing that relationship. On this ground, the priest is primarily spiritual, namely, to announce the good news of salvation, and not to become conduits for the agendas of politicians.
However, while the intrigues and bickering over power that characterise partisan politics should be left to the politicians, the spiritual work of salvation also has social and political implications. While the pulpit should not be used for political campaigns, proclaiming the word of God is relevant to upholding justice, truth and peace. In history, political consciousness, faith-based social engagement and even violent uprisings against the status quo have arisen as a result of the interpretation of this gospel verse. The often cited case of Liberation Theology, where a radical Marxist inclined section of the clergy in South American countries mobilised the people and took up arms, is classic example. Owing to obnoxious policies leading to pressing societal and political problems, priests felt a moral duty to speak up and save the masses from further strangulation.
Given the foregoing analysis, the social conditions and political issues in Nigeria should warrant commentary from priests as leaders in the society. They ought not to be aligned to political parties or particular candidates, but they should be bothered and critical of social malaise, structural injustice, political ineptitude, systemic moral deficiency and financial mismanagement in the system. There are lots of atrocious and despicable happenings going on in the system. Impunity has taken over the place because there is no one to justifiably enforce the law; politicians are engaged in self-seeking adventures to the criminal impoverishment of the people; everyone has become a law unto himself and the country is paying dearly for it. Leaders, be the priests or community actors, should not turn a blind eye on this; they should be critical on them and be able speak on behalf of the people.
This country is blessed with lots of outspoken Priests,Bishops and Pastors that speak truth to power without being linked to partisan politics. Many of them have been greatly admired and others have been misunderstood and vilified. But in their social engagement and prophetic role, the church leaders must ensure that they do not become tools in the hands of politicians. Nigerians are aware of self-acclaimed titles whose public political allegiance changes according to the direction of the pecuniary call.
It follows also from the separation of religion and state thesis that a religion cannot also put up a state for it is below the state in the hierarchy of society. It is therefore inelegant and ignoble when religious leaders or Christians, use the churches for political campaigns or to endorse parties or to denigrate candidates.
Nevertheless, while church leaders should not give a bad name to a noble calling, there is nothing morally wrong and legally reprehensible in condemning bad leadership with its negative effects on the people. In fact, it is service to the country when genuine and concerned church leaders come out, as the conscience of the people, to courageously speak truth to power.
