*Asks clerics to leave politics to politicians
“The Muslim Media Group commended Muslims and Islamic scholars all over the country for maintaining decorum and respecting the rule of law and refusing to tow the line of some of their christian counterparts by following who it referred to as ‘political clerics’ who pursue selfish, personal and tribalistic interests that are disuniting Nigerians; adding politics is ephemeral, while spiritualism is for eternal life and glory.”
By KEMI KASUMU
Clerics in the country have been called upon to ‘leave politics to politicians’ and face their core mandates of winning souls for spiritual development of Nigeria.
The call was contained in a press statement of Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWGN) jointly signed by its National Coordinator Mal. Ibrahim Abdullahi and National Missioner Sheikh Abu Sheriff, dated August 29, 2022 and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER on Monday.
The Group referred to widely publicised statement of Bishop Christian Okeke of Christian Fellowship Mission (CFM), Awka, Anambra State, calling on Nigerians to vote out the current government in power because of Muslim-Muslim ticket, describing the outburst of the cleric as reckless, provocative and irresponsible.
According to the Group, religious leaders must leave politics to politicians pointing-out that such a reckless outburst ought not to emanate from clerics as the ban on campaign is yet to be lifted and when lifted churches and mosques must be left out of it as they are sanctuaries of God that should be insulated from politics.
As ‘preaching politics on the pulpit is sacrilegious’, the Group charged clerics who are interested in politics to resign from the pulpit and join political parties of their choice instead of causing disaffection in the congregation that could lead to breakdown of peace, law and order.
The Christian-Christian tickets being operated in the whole of South East, South- South and some parts of the North including Benue, Plateau and Taraba States as well as Ondo and Ekiti States has been distasteful and muslims have not noise about it as we believe that governance is not about religion.
The Muslim Media Group commended Muslims and Islamic scholars all over the country for maintaining decorum and respecting the rule of law and refusing to tow the line of some of their christian counterparts by following who it referred to as ‘political clerics’ who pursue selfish, personal and tribalistic interests that are disuniting Nigerians; adding politics is ephemeral, while spiritualism is for eternal life and glory.
MMWG concluded by stating that 2023 is not about religion but ability, capability, competence, integrity and accountability as well as ability to bring on board credible people to serve in the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary with a view of reducing to the barest minimum crises facing Nigeria as a Nation.
