By Emmanuel Gandu
INTRODUCTION
The church recognizes that while democracy is the best expression of a direct participation of citizens in political choices, it succeeds when Christians joins the entire citizens of the country in political functions.
The church therefore prepares the laity, the people for a life of civility and moral uprightness of respect, kindness, politeness, consideration, advocacy, and exhibition of good conduct even in the face of difficult and challenging circumstances in the society.
These are attributes that go a long way to preventing volatile situations of civil unrest, crisis, thuggery, corruption, maladministration, and many forms of injustice that may lead to political upheavals.
In this regard, the church expects governments to ensure the rights, duties and privileges due to the citizens as they seek the truth with sincerity, to promote and defend through legitimate means, moral truth concerning societal justice, equal rights, freedom, respect for human life, and all other rights of the human person.
WHY CHRISTIANS SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS
According to Vatican II, for example, “The Lay faithful are
never to relinquish their participation in public life”, especially in the many different economic, social, legislative, administrative, and cultural areas which are intended to promote the common good. This will go a long way to among others, encourage the promotion and defence of that common good such as public order and peace, freedom and equality, respect for human life and for the environment, justice and solidarity for all.
In this 21st century democratic society, everyone should be a participant in directing the body politic by getting registered as a voter, participate in the choice of representatives, law makers, government officials, and others to leadership positions. Everyone should freely register to join or become a member of a political party.
By fulfilling their civic duties, guided by a Christian conscience and in conformity with her values, Christians would have exercised their proper task and responsibility of infusing the temporal order with Christian values. This is all in the hope of respecting the nature and rightful autonomy of the church, while cooperating with other citizens accordingly.
SOURCES OF POWER AND LEGITIMACY OF THE CHURCH IN DIRECTING CHRISTIANS TO PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS
(1) The Bible
(2) Vatican II. Second Vatican Council Pastoral Constitution 31, 36, 42, 43, 75, 76.
(3) Catechism of the Catholic Church – part three Section one Chapter two Article 2 : Participation in Social Life.
(4) Code of Canon Law:
Canon 284 Section 3, and Section 4.
Section 3 prohibits the clergy from doing things that are “unbecoming” or “foreign to the clerical state.” The section prohibits priests and Bishops from serving in public offices which entail a participation in the exercise of civil power.
However, Section 4 allows them, but only with the permission of their Bishop.
With the clergy out of active politiking, the church has no option but to encourage the lay faithful to actively participate in the body politic of the country.
SOME “POLITICIANS” IN THE BIBLE
They may not be referred to as politicians in the actual sense of the word but their exemplary conduct in those situations they find themselves may be likened to politiking.
We are therefore encouraged to borrow a leaf from their experiences in conducting ourselves through the turbulent political waters of Nigeria.
(1) JESUS CHRIST
In his earthly ministry, Jesus did not reside in a democratic society but he lived under the oppressive and imperial dictatorship of the Jewish and Roman Emperor.
Yet, he was able to find his way through in the manner he played politics to the best of his ability and to the glory of God.
In one of his several political game mastery, Jesus acquitted himself creditably when the Teachers of the law and the Chief Priests set a trap to arrest him on the account of paying taxes to who he pays allegiance between the Church and the State. Jesus replies by – “Render unto Caeser the things that are Caeser’s, and unto God the things that are God’s” – Matthew 22:15-22, Mark 22:13-17, Luke 20:19-26.
(2) DANIEL
His experiences under King Nebuchadnezzar was never the best of times. Despite the hardship/torture he went through, Daniel kept his head cool and focused while not allowing the conflict between the demands of the king and his conviction to cause him to loose faith in God.
By his tenacity to his Christian ideals and refusal to obey, Daniel shows you and I that it’s possible to participate in politics and still retain our integrity and moral uprightness.
Daniel also shows us that there are times to disagree/defy the government obnoxious policies and also times to comply with government directives.
Others include:
(3) Deborah
(4) Esther
(5) John the Baptist
(6) Joseph in Egypt
(7) King Solomon
(8) Nehemiah
(9) Peter
(10) Paul
OTHER PROMINENT CHRISTIAN “POLITICIAN” LEADERS
(1) Pope John Paul II
(2) John Cardinal Onaiyekan
(3) Bishop Joseph Danlami Bagobiri
(4) Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah
(5) Pastor Oritse Jafo
(6) Dr. Yusufu Turaki
(7) Pastor Tunde Bakare
(8) Pastor Yemi Osibajo (former Vice President)
(9) Rev. Fr. Moses Adasu (former governor of Benue state)
(10) Rev. Fr. Hycinth Aliah (governor of Benue state)
(11) Senator George Akume ksm (former governor of Benue state and currently Secretary to the Federal government of Nigeria)
(12) Sir David Y. Yashim ksm – fronline Town Planner and FCT Abuja master plan designer, and Director kaduna lands and survey department.
(13) Sir Ibrahim Yakowa ksm (former deputy governor and governor Kaduna state)
(14) Dr. John Ayuba ksm (former kaduna state finance commisdioner, and PDP Deputy governorship aspirant in the 2023 elections.
(14) Hassan Hyat ksm – PDP Chairman kaduna state, and former chairman kachia local government.
(15) Joseph Maigari ksm – Director, and commissioner kaduna state.
(16) HRH Gambo Yahaya ksm – Agwa Tyap III
(17) Sir John Bagu ksm – former President Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria.
(18) Dr James Kanyip ksm (former Kaura LG chairman and now commissioner Kaduna state)
(19) Hon. Mathew Donatus ksm (Member House of Representatives in the 10th Assembly)
(20) Hon. Obadiah Sankai Chairman Kaura local government, Kaduna State.
Christians are therefore encouraged to engage themselves meaningfully, actively, positively, and be as morally upright as possible in the politics of Nigeria in order to not only show the light, change the narrative and status quo, but also strive to ensure the welfare of humanity.
BIBLE REFERENCES ON POLITICS, ELECTIONS, LEADERSHIP, AND AUTHORITY
(1) Some Bible verses on God’s authority and respect for constitutional authority.
- Daniel 2:20-21
- 1Peter 3:22
- John 19:11
- Psalm 138:4-5
- Colossians 3:22-24
- Titus 3:1-2
- Romans 13:1-7
- 1Peter 2:13-16
- Luke 20:21-25
- Daniel 3:16-18
(2) Some Bible verses about electing leaders
- Proverbs 11:4
- Proverbs 14:13
- Deuteronomy 1:13
- Psalms 111:10
- Luke 16:10
- Galatians 1:10
(3) Some Bible verses for political leaders
- Psalms 19:1
- Acts 20:28
- Proverbs 4:23
- Philippians 4:7
(4) Some Bible verses on how to pray for politicians and those in position of authority
- 1Timothy 2:1-4
- Philippians 4:6
1Kings 3:9
HOW RELIGION AND MORAL POLITICS ARE NECESSARY FOR NATIONAL PROGRESS
(1) Nigeria should use her religious and ethnic plurality as an asset rather than a set back. Each of the ethnic groups has her culture, and every religion has its core values. It’s just necessary to harness these cultural diversity and the different religious values for national progress through the instrumentality of politics.
(2) It will enhance a reduction of religious conflict, crisis of intolerance, and such vices that seeks to come between the two major religions of Christianity and Islam.
(3) A reduction in the cases and extent of corruption to the barest minimum. Corruption in Nigeria has been a manifestation of a deficit in moral values, and an inhibiting factor to the progress and growth of the country.
(4) It will lead to a halt in the collapse of institutional capacity.
Institutions saddled with the responsibility of ensuring the maintenance of public morality will become more responsive to deepening the core values of humanity, in a functional, optimal, and a morally upright and society.
(5) Religion and moral politics will build a socio-cultural society with the ideals of a sound communal value system.
HOW TO EFFECTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS
(1) Register and obtain your voter’s card.
Mobilize members of your community, church, town meeting to register and obtain the voters card.
(2) Register in any political party of your choice beginning from your ward to the local government and up to the state level if you wish to be a card carrying member of the party of your choice.
(3) Attend party meetings of your political party at the ward, local government and state level.
(4) Contribute accordingly in the payment of dues, ideas, suggestions, recruitment of new membership, etc at the ward, local government and state level.
(5) Be a mobilizer of people and funds for your party.
(6) Be a disciplined, loyal, opinion leader of your community, ward, local government and state level.
(7) Be a team player.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Politics and religion when purified by honourable men and women can sanitize the polity, and contribute positively to the living standard of Nigerians.
Likewise when there is strict adherence to moral values and principles, there would be peace, stability, justice, and solidarity which are key to national progress.
This is the clarion call by the church to Christians for a better Nigeria.
QUESTION AND ANSWER
- Christians are discriminated against, denied indigene certificate for their children, denied employment and admission, assassinated even where there is no justification, no provision of infrastructure in their villages and towns, denied the building of Churces and freedom of worship.
These acts of violence occur mostly in the North despite the fact that Christians belong to political parties and they take part in elections.
What suggestion do you have for Christians in order to find a solution to these problems ?
ANS
Right from the beginning Christians have always faced persecution.
Jesus Christ was murdered on the cross in order to silence and eliminate his movement.
The early Christians suffered cruelty leading up to shedding of their blood. They refused to back off. These persecutions led to martyredom, and the blood of these martyres have continued to water the seeds of Christianity in all parts of the world. Northern Nigeria will not be an exception.
Leah Sharibu, Deborah, the Chibok girls, Benue, Plateau, Southern Kaduna and other killings in Christian villages will continue to happen because the enemy wants to eliminate Christianity and Christians on the surface of the earth.
We have not forgotten the so called MUSLIM-MUSLIM TICKET.
We should not surrender because Jesus Christ did not surrender.
We have to keep being in politics by participating effectively. The benefits may not come during our life time, but we hope and trust that God will never abandon us.
Let us join people like Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Bishop Kukah and other frontline Christians in the advocacy for good governance, justice, equal rights, protection of life and prosperity, and freedom.
You need to speak up wherever, whenever, and however.
May God save Nigeria.
Peace 🙏
