Okogie to Buhari: Clerics’ll criticise, reconcile politicians

The Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos and
former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Anthony
Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, has told President Muhammadu Buhari that
religious leaders in the country will continue to intervene in
political issues in the interest of the nation.

The respected Christian leader insisted that part of the
responsibilities of clerics in the society was to reconcile warring
politicians and criticise them when they err.

Okogie was reacting to President Muhammad Buhari’s recent
admonition during the Interfaith Initiative For Peace Conference
held in Abuja on October 13, where when the Pr4esident threatened
that any men of God found to be involved in partisan comments would
lose their public respect.

The President had 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.

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

In a statement issued on Monday, Okogies berated the said the
statement made by Buhari saying: “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.

“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.”