The problem with sentiments is
that you cannot limit the ridiculous extent it could be pushed to since they
not based on laid down rules. A good example of that is the attempt to bring
religion into politics, starting with the question of the faith of the
occupants of public office. This issue keeps creeping into public discourse
whenever we approach presidential and sometimes gubernatorial elections. It
comes like the issue of ethnicity, geopolitical zone or state of origin of
contenders to offices. This argument drains the energy from not only the
contestants but their political parties and by extension, the citizens. And in
so doing, we lose the opportunity to raise real issues of governance and competence
of candidates.
This unnecessary discussion is
again attempting to upstage more important issues this electioneering season. As
stated above, there cannot be a limit to the extension of the argument. Last
week, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) in Enugu added its demand by
questioning what it sees as the impending ‘Catholic-Catholic’ leadership of the
state government. I know you are as confused as I was when I heard that. By
this description, the Anglicans are saying that the next governor and deputy
governor of Enugu State are likely to be Roman Catholics, meaning that an
Anglican will not be in the Government House. Apparently they consider such a
possibility as serious concern to the existence of Anglicans or the practice of
their faith that their leadership had to address a press conference. So that is
what we have reduced governance to? It is no longer about Christianity and
Islam but since Enugu State is predominantly Christian, the division should now
be one of denomination.
As ridiculous as this sounds on
the surface of it, on deeper thought, I thank the Anglican priests for their
selfish and narrow interest which has helped us reason further to show how so
vacuous the whole discussion about religion in public office can be. As a
matter of fact, the Anglicans, through the Archbishop of Enugu, Emmanuel
Chukwuma are demanding at least the position of deputy governor in addition to
at least three cabinet positions in Enugu state. And this point they mince no
words about as according to Chukwuma: “we totally reject the intention (to
field two Roman Catholics) and are warning that if they want peace to reign in
this state and if they want our cooperation, it should not be Roman
Catholic-Roman Catholic ticket”. They went ahead to say, “all those who want to
become governor are Catholics and in the PDP, they are plotting to make their
running mate a Catholic. We are saying give us an Anglican Deputy, otherwise
you are looking for our trouble”.
By law, only political parties
are qualified to sponsor candidates for election, not ethnic or religious
groups. So there is no such thing as ‘Southern candidate’, ‘Muslim candidate’,
‘Christian candidate’ or ‘Catholic candidate’. But these are cheap points used
by politically desperate citizens. I cannot therefore understand the argument
of groups such as those represented by Archbishop Chukwuma, neither can I say
this position reflects that of their entire church. What the church ought to do
if it is bent on having its members in government is to encourage them to stand
election not wait to be considered as running mate.
Besides, this whole talk about
religion and politics seems to concentrate on and build upon a faulty premise
that Christianity and Islam are the only religions in Nigeria. It is this same
faulty foundation that emboldens the Nigerian state to set up Christian and
Muslim pilgrims’ welfare commissions and spend public funds in footing the
private interests of some privileged citizens.
I was just wondering, what if,
for whatever that is worth, we agree with Archbishop Chukwuma that an Anglican should
be made deputy governor and few other Anglicans appointed commissioners, what
would happen if one of such officials changes his/her faith and denomination?
Would the person thereby lose his/her seat, same way the Constitution requires
legislators to lose their seat if they defect from one political party to
another?
The time has come for
religious and ethnic leaders to be told to limit their involvement in everyday
partisan political contestations and allow the system to properly evolve.
Published December 28, 2014
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