Okogie disagrees with Buhari on role of clerics in politics

Former Catholic Archbishop of Lagos and former president, Christian Association of Nigeria, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, has told President Muhammadu Buhari why religious leaders will not desist from intervening in political issues in the country.

He said that one of the responsibilities of clerics in any society remains to play the role of reconciliation to warring politicians as well as criticise them when they fail to do the right thing.

He was responding to Buhari’s recent comments during the Interfaith Initiative For Peace Conference event that took place in Abuja on October 13.

Buhari had at the event said, “Having witnessed the roles our religious leaders have been playing so far, I appeal to them to eschew partisan politics. I also appeal to their respective members to read the manifestos of each political party, discuss and pray for God’s guidance before casting their votes.”

He had added, “Religious leaders should not be seen to involve themselves in partisan politics or political controversies. Otherwise, they risk losing their status and public respect.”

Buhari’s admonition came on the heels of the role some clerics played when President Olusegun Obasanjo reconciled and endorsed his former vice president and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar    to be Nigeria’s next president.

But responding in a statement he entitled “On the President’s recent admonition” and made available to newsmen on Monday, Okogie said: “Mr President, we are in danger in Nigeria today because politics is separated from morality. Instead of working for the common good, our politicians, with very few exceptions, are working for their selfish interests. Their primary objective is how to get into power and how to remain in power. This kind of politics is a breach of security and an impediment to development.

“When politicians divorce politics from morality, it would be irresponsible on the part of religious and traditional leaders who ought to be custodians of values to leave politicians to set this country ablaze.

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“Nigeria that was once set ablaze by a quarrel between two politicians, a quarrel that led Nigeria into a bloody civil war, religious leaders who are able to broker peace have the responsibility to at least ensure that they reconcile.

“Some of us, despite being threatened and maligned by some media aides, will continue to engage politicians to ensure that they do not take Nigeria back to 1966 – 70. That is why some of us speak.”

 

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