“A good government remains the greatest of human blessings, and no nation has ever enjoyed it” (Williams R. Inge). As 2015 draws near the political terrain is being heated up by the maneuvering of those seeking to be elected representative as Governors, Legislators, President, Chairmen or Councilors. Where does Christians in politics stand? Which type of elected representative do we want? God’s word say or describe the kind of leader we want “The person who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God” (2 Sam. 23:3, NLB).
The do or die politicking of elected representatives should not border Christians in politics or the Christian community. This is because the scheming or politicking of secular people or politicians does not determine what will be. It is the God that the Christian serves that determines what will be in response to the united prayers of Christians (see Mt. 18: 18-20). The Christians cannot complain anymore in 2015 that wrong people are voted into power since through elective democracy, the Christians being in the majority in this nation can like Christians did in America, voted enmasse for President George Bush re-election, do the same here in Nigeria.
The issue now is who are the Christians in politics that qualifies to be elected to represent us at every level of government? This is where the search for a political saint begins. It will be most interesting in future elections to see how religious leaders of celebrity status are coaxed to run for political office. To some Christians it is a consummation devoutly to be wished. The transference from religious authority might be quite natural for some Christians. The normative way to effect representation is to send a leader instead of the whole company.
Yet there is a broader issue here. How could a significant number of Nigeria people be serious about a candidate whose credentials are concentrated in religious leadership? Part of the answer lies in several cultural developments that may open the door for a “Christian ticket” in subsequent elections. Let us look now at those cultural factors, then at religious factors that would contribute to such a possibility. The president or elected representatives we elect are the important people in our political lives. Their personalities reflect our current needs. They, in turn, make an impression on us. They set a precedent in our perception of what is acceptable in a candidate and what needs to be avoided in a candidate. Our reactions to past presidents or elected representatives have much to do with who we elect in the future.
The recurring trait we can see in our Nigerian family album is our love – hate relationship with authority. We alternately seek it and rebel against it. We build security under it; then we desire freedom that security always threatens to stifle. From our beginning as a nation we desire freedom from the control of our colonial master Great Britain, so we fought for independence. Then we had, in the place of the mother country, Great Britain a loosely confederated group of regional governments. Then we had a union of states with states’ rights. Then we had a union with a balance of federal and state powers. Then we had surprise – another strong federal government but unitary system in practice under military governments. But we love that strong federal government, don’t we? Yes and no. We love the security it offers and hate its control over our lives.
There may have been a time in our history when the president and the federal government were seen as one source of authority. If there ever was, it is gone, and our affection for each is much diminished. In recent years we have begin to deal with love-hate relationship with authority by dividing our affection between the person of the president in whom we hope and the big government we resent. We can rather easily trace the development of this mentality. What is it? Looking back see the kind of leaders we have had from the first republic post independence leaders, like Ahamadu Bello for the Northern region, Obafemi Awolowo for the West and Dr. Michael Okpara at the East with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe at the centre. The subsequent military intervention in our political landscape and governance produced a mixture of imperfect government that left us without ideal representative government or leadership. In between years of military rule were 2nd and 3rd republics before the present 4th republic or civil governance or Nast democracy. Our photo album of what we have of leaders at these times was that of dictatorship, nepotism, corruption and ethnic bigotry.
With President Goodluck Jonathan we have become accustomed to religion in Aso Rock. We are able to connect competence and popularity with the support of evangelical issues in spite of religious upheaval from Islamic adherents. Nigerians who want to elevate morality to higher level than they are themselves committed to living will naturally entertain the idea of a religious leader ticket. In 1999 in Rivers State the issue of religion decided the Governorship election in favour of Governor Peter Odili. Yet in 1993 presidential ticket the issue of religion was not considered but the competence of the candidates was he issue hence Abiola and Kingibe being Muslim-Muslim ticket won in a multi ethnic and multi-religious state like Nigeria. And there is more. We have yet to see the full potential of the most powerful cultural aid to a candidate or elected representative.
It is not television or media exposure. According to a 1995 Gallup survey of the public’s perception of “honesty and ethnic standards” in professions, clergy rank first of the twenty five occupations listed, Senators, congressmen, local political office holders, and state political office holders all rank in the lower half of the survey. All of this evidence helps us answer the question of how “in the world” a religious leader could be considered a viable candidate. Perhaps what we see on television is a projection of who he really is and what he really means. Or perhaps he just has a smarter image consultant. In any case, we need to listen for his ideals and strategy and not just watch a staged event that relays an image.
Searching for a political saint come 2015 for elective office, Christian’s political decisions should be made on an informed, thoughtful basis, yet a sense of unity with the personage can be an added benefit to us all. Christians constitute a special interest group – with money. This comes as no surprise. Religion has always been the major benefactor of benevolent giving in this country. And Christians will see supporting a religious candidate as an aspect of practical Christianity. It is indeed. The search for political saint continues come 2015. Not done yet, read next issue. You are blessed for life. Have question, you may call: 08033399821 or write: akpogena@yahoo.com. Stay blessed.
Written By Dr. Lewis Akpogena
