IN this season of politicking and elections, virtues and moralities of politicians are key factors which determine how politics is played. While Nigerians generally yearn for politicians of conscience, many seem resigned to leaving the political arena to unfeeling vagabonds whose primary motivations in getting actively involved in politics are material acquisition and the arrogant flaunting of political power. Virtues of humility and service are sorely missing and unedifying tactics are employed in the quest for power, thus tarring politics as a dirty game that should be churned by decent people. And when decent people churn politics, it becomes the fortress of the less virtuous, for whom the end justifies the means. (apology to Italian philosopher, Niccolo Machiavelli)
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However, there are those who have refused to give up on Nigeria, its politics and politicians and believe that the avarice, fetishes and the tendency to violence that scare away those otherwise inclined to serve Nigeria, is not beyond redemption. It is this belief in a great and better Nigeria that prompted a group of Christians, across various denominations, to come together under the platform of Christ Redeemer’s Friends International (CRFI) with the goal to midwife a new set of politicians with the fear of God in their dealings. It was in furtherance of this goal that the Ibadan Chapter of CRFI recently organized a dinner/seminar on the theme “Godliness and Politics”, held at Jogor Centre, Ibadan. In his introductory remarks, Prof. Femi Owolabi, the coordinator of Ibadan chapter of CRFI explained that the theme of the seminar was to acknowledge that ‘’not all Christians in politics are godly’’ and that the goal is to bring about redemptive politics, with godly Christians in the vanguard. Prof. Owolabi lamented the rot in society, pointing out that ‘’when the righteous reign, the people rejoice’’.
The guest speaker, Dr. Fred Odutola, who is chairman, Africa Area Board of United Bible Society, stressed that politics, being organized control of government and the lives of the people, cannot be left to unconscionable politicians. He argued that governance require godliness if it is to be people-centered, and that Christians have no excuse not to be involved in politics but regretted that many fall to the temptation of ‘’if you can’t beat them, join them’’. Dr. Odutola said given the poor record of many Christians in politics, it was time to separate the Christian name from godliness, implying that many such Christians only pay lip service to the dictates of the bible. ‘’Let us Christians dare to be positively different in politics’’, he exhorted. He admitted that sanitizing politics, as played in Nigeria, will be a very difficult task but cited the example of William Wilberforce, the British politician, who fought a long battle for the abolition of the slave trade. But the poser here is : how passionate, issue-oriented and resilient about the people are Nigerian politicians? It is pertinent to recall that William Wilberforce, a member of the British Parliament, who converted to Christianity, had in his ‘’Abolition Speech’’ to the House Commons in London on May 12, 1789 described slavery as an evil in society which must be ended and introduced a Bill to this effect. The Bill was defeated, but Wilberforce never gave up, and reintroduced the Bill, year after year, until the Slave Trade Act was finally passed 18 years later, in 1807. Where is the Nigerian politician passionate about matters concerning the people and tenacity in pursuit of any matter of public interest?
Dr. Odutola decried the emphasis on material acquisition as a measure of success, as against service to the society. But many churches in Nigeria preach prosperity and celebrate material wealth, even when dubiously acquired. So, for Christian leaders, charity must begin at home, that is if they buy into the idea of godliness. The CRFI must, therefore, make Christian congregations a primary target of its campaign. Dr. Odutola enjoined Christians to be the light in politics. It is an hopeful statement echoed by pastor (Dr.) Segun Olatunji, who in his intervention, said just a few genuine Christians in politics could influence the direction of the nation for the good of all. ‘’We need Christians in politics who have conquered greed and Christians who see politics as missionary work’’, he declared. The takeaway from the seminar on Godliness is the emergent consciousness that Christians and Christendom in Nigeria are not living up to expectations in the governance of the country, requiring evangelism for change. Perhaps, if other religious bodies, professional and trade associations can begin to similarly interrogate the failings of their constituencies, the nation may experience redemption in virtually all aspects of life.
- Dr. Olawunmi, a public affairs analyst, is a fellow of the Nigerian Guild Of Editors.
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