Dr Cosmas Ilechukwu, the General Overseer of Charismatic Renewal Ministries (CRM), on Sunday, urged Church leaders not to get involved in partisan politics.
Ilechukwu gave the advice at this year’s edition of Special Service and Prayers for Nigeria and Her Political Leaders organised in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the service was organised as part of the activities to mark the annual “Change We Need Nigeria Initiative” programme of the church.
The clergyman said that though every Christian must get involved in politics, the church in itself, should not be partisan.
“The saying that politics is a dirty game and Christians should not be involved is not a policy of the church.
“It is a body language that has lasted for a long time. It is not a statement policy by any church.
“However, that body language has to change.
“If you listen to my sermon today, you will see that it is God’s will that thrones, dominions and powers, these are governmental terminologies; they are all supposed to be centred on God and give God glory.
“In them, Jesus deserves to be preeminence.
“Of course, church may not be involved in partisan politics because, like for instance, we have two candidates we prayed for today and both of them are not from the same party.
“So that is non-partisanship. I cannot come out in public and stand here on the altar and say I am supporting this particular political party.
“That is the only way you can say church shouldn’t be partisan because it will create trouble,” he said.
He, however, said Christian leaders could make statements and give criteria that would guide members of their church on who they could choose as candidates.
Ilechukwu, who enjoined Nigerians to clean up their permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) and make right choice in the 2023 general elections, said the electorate should vote a candidate who is peace loving.
“Our president should not be a warmonger but a lover of people; a peaceful man.
“He should be a president who is not greedy, who will not take our common wealth as his own.
“He must be somebody who envisages good governance based on the instruction from God.
“Our next president should be somebody who fears God.
“Our president should not be arrogant, he should not be the one who arrogates to himself the status of God,” he said.
According to him, God wants that the next president should keep his mind on the law of God.
“The law of God is the rule of law. In democracy, human beings are not allowed to rule, the law rules.
“The law is above everybody, including the president, and any body who goes against the law should face the wrath of the law.
“Therefore, the next president should imbibe culture that will foster the rule of law.
“We should vote people who will submit themselves to the rule of law,” he said.
He, however, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the polls as honestly and transparently as possible.
He advised that the new technology, which is captured in the Electoral Act, 2022, should not be discarded by INEC in the conduct of the elections.
“The current INEC chairman is not an angel but since he has started the process, let him finish it,” he said.
NAN reports that prayers were offered for the country and its leaders.
(NAN)
