KPerspective August 12, 2007
KINGDOM PERSPECTIVE
with Remi Akano
e-mail: remiakanosr@believeandrepent.com
As we said in the last two editions of this column, the time has come for the church in Nigeria to take its place as a crucial stakeholder in the affairs of our nation. For too long, we have been contented to sit by and watch while politicians, of all hues, toy with the destiny of our nation and the future of our youths. We have become like the clean-up specialists who waiting in the wings to clear the mess made by politicians. Or like fire fighters after the act of arson is well under way.
When they start sectarian violence, we rush in with words of comfort and relief materials for the victims. When they bastardize government universities, we fall over ourselves to build our own. When they rig elections, we sermonize on the need to move our nation forward. One wise man said politics is too important to be left for politicians; we say politics is to dirty to be played by “real Christians.” The result is what we are seeing today – five of six governors accused of wrongdoing in office; one already convicted; one already singing canary-like and one almost certainly irredeemable – are Christians, nominal or not!
In offering a more pro-active approach to the crisis we had sought that the umbrella body for all Christians, the Christian association of Nigeria (CAN) puts in place certain structures to begin to tackle the challenges. We had said that these times call us to “prayerfully put structures in place to deliberately begin to engage with the “political class” in the area of godliness, ethics and the common good; keep an eagle eye upon those who get into government proclaiming their love for the Lord Jesus; and continuously and directly engage with government at all levels to ensure that godliness is an overriding factor in policy formulation, direction and implementation..”
We did make some specific suggestions about official liaison with the three main branches of government and regular retreats for Christians who find their way into office. The last five words of this last sentence throws light upon one of the most fundamental challenges that Christianity has when our ability to influence governance and public policy is concerned. How do our brethren “find their way into office?”
I believe this is a very crucial question which if examined critically should assist in addressing the character question among men and women, who in addition to whatever party flags they may fly, are also easily identified with the Christian faith.
Look at it this way: a man or woman of God feels the call to serve God in the public or political arena. He tells members of his church family about it. What does he get? Apathy or outright discouragement and in many cases prayers! God answers prayers, but like James said in the Bible, faith without works is dead! A man or woman seeking election into office needs money to run his campaign. When he doesn’t get help from his brethren, he’ll try to get it from other sources. Enter the godfather - with all the consequences, as we saw in the case of Dr Chris Ngige and his so-called estranged godfather in Anambra state, Chris Uba and; erstwhile Governor Rashidi Ladoja and Lamidi Adedibu in Oyo State.
Even where a solo financier is not involved there are usually a variety of sponsors and financiers each waiting in the wings for returns on their investment. That ties the office seeker’s hands long before they become office holders and also whittles, if not eliminate, whatever influences the church could have had upon such people. Arguably, a Christian, well grounded in the word should be able to resist evil wherever it raises its head, but it certainly does become more difficult where the righteous forsake their brothers and sisters to “find their way to office.”
The need to raise awareness among us about politics and governance is rally pressing. And just like I pointed out last week, it isn’t as if some work hadn’t been done or even been done in this area. I cited the programmes of the Justice < development and Peace Commission of the Catholic Church and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria’s Social Security Outreach.
For instance, in a publication titled, Understanding God’s Prophetic Agenda for Nigeria, the PFN listed eight things Pentecostal Christians are supposed to do to increase their political awareness. Among them are: “Cultivate the habit of reading at least one newspaper daily and listening to radio or television programs where politics is discussed; Have a personal file for keeping vital political documents and articles… and buy a copy of the Nigerian Constitution.”
The need for Christian brethren to identify the ward they live or work within there local governments was emphasized as well as identification of your councilor and local government chairperson.
The last three items in the “what to do” section of the booklet reads like this:
“Just as you are actively involved in evangelism, lead a Christian into the political terrain. Make as many converts as you can from day to day; Decide with your converts to join a convenient local chapter of any of the political parties and; Find out association of Christians who are discussing politics, planning a new era for Nigeria and join them”
I have quoted from that publication just to show that things are already being done. But those things have to be stepped up now that we still have a number of years to another election and done as a church, one church, the body of Christ so that it may be effective. Once again, I do not discount the high level of disunity in the body, but I know the more we find ourselves working together for common goals, the better united we would be.
Somebody has asked me: what’s all this noise about Christianity and governance? What we need, according to this school of thought are civil and clean people in power, people who are committed to serving the people and not themselves or their families. Fine sentiments, on the surface, except that the place to find such people in whom such values are resident and capable of enduring is the church. I do not disparage any faith, but I speak for mine, please!
At a more fundamental level, it must be emphasized that morality not anchored on religious values DO NOT ENDURE. And that is one of the very few things that ex-President Matthew Obasanjo and I agree upon!
I recall that towards the end of his tenure, he had the opportunity of speaking on this very important issue. At the maiden edition of the African Forum on Religion and Government (AFREG) at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Obasanjo was reported to have called for concerted spiritual response to the problems confronting Africa if we are going to successfully transform the continent. A newspaper report quoted him as saying: “if there is one thing Africa badly needs, it is perhaps such a unifying principle that commands the respect of all and life-changing enough to energise us to make awesome sacrifices for the development of the continent".
The challenge of transforming Africa, he was reported to have said, transcends moral principle and so he would like to see African nations moving spirituality to its proper place as the underpinning factor of everything else. His words as quoted in one of the reports: "Morality without a spiritual base is hollow…Spiritual response will define our core positions in all aspects of life, whether in our work ethics, or relationships or interfaith issues, or even morality.”
He lamented what he called the scarcity of integrity, described AFREG as a timely initiative and endorsed the group’s objective "to build a movement of African leaders of integrity who are committed to transforming Africa into a First World continent shaped by God-centred moral values,"
Even if Obasanjo was at that time busily gnawing at his own integrity, none can fault his position on this quintessential matter. God-centred moral values must be the driving force for governance in Nigeria, if we are to fulfil God’s end-time plan for Africa and the world. That is why Nigeria’s Kingdom leaders MUST ARISE and really lead the church towards God’s prophetic agenda. (Watch out for “the Unity Question” and please feel free to join this debate at: http://thegreatcompany.blogspot.com)
Material first published in a Nigerian daily, Sunday Independent.
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