He said those engaging in partisan politics or political controversies among the clerics risked losing their public respect.
Buhari said this at the Interfaith Initiative For Peace Conference tagged, ‘Religious harmony in Nigeria: Towards the 2019 general election’ in Abuja.
The President said his advice became necessary having witnessed the roles religious leaders had been playing so far ahead of the elections.
He expressed the hope that the electoral process would be completed peacefully without resorting to negative use of religion and ethnicity.
The President said, “Very soon, political campaigns will commence leading to elections in February next year.
“It is my hope and prayer that we will perform even better at the polling stations and see to a peaceful completion of the entire process without resorting to negative use of religion and ethnicity.
“Having witnessed the roles our religious leaders have been playing so far, I appeal to them to eschew partisan politics. I also appeal to their respective members to read the manifestos of each political party, discuss and pray for God’s guidance before casting their votes.
“Religious leaders should not be seen to involve themselves in partisan politics or political controversies. Otherwise, they risk losing their status and public respect.
from punch...
*When they visit him,its OK but when they visit someone else he he advises them to avoid politics...you must be kissing us Sir!..Please practice waht you preach!
When Fr Mbaka was campaigning for him he didn’t lose public respect okwaya?
ReplyDeleteMtchewwww!!!
Operation deport him to daura 2019!
Aso rock is not a retirement home!
Just Krix!
Mbaka lost it then. He lost public respect for doing so cause even you was on his case then. That's exactly what Buhari is taking about. Understand him straight for once without adding sentiments
DeleteEESAH, your orgasm today will be mind blowing
DeleteThey should loose his respect, after all what are they using his respect to do... rubbish and ingredient
DeleteIf as a cleric , losing my respect will mean coming out to voice against the evil one from daura, so be it
DeleteAnd what happens when a president is partisan to one tribe? He goes back to that tribe to dwell.
ReplyDeleteHow can someone be partisan to one tribe? Just negodu 😏
DeleteBuhari is saying the truth and nothing but the truth. Many clerics are on this table
ReplyDeleteStella don't mind him....when he was receiving support from father Mbaka he didn't know....UZEBU
ReplyDeleteFr. Mbaka
ReplyDeleteOyedepo
Apostle Suleiman
CAN President
Chai those sitting comfortably on this table plenty
Did you make this list when Mbaka was campaigning for him in 2014? Buhari couldn't even wipe away your tears. Yeye boy Just keep crying Inugo?
DeleteI don't have tears to be wiped away and unlike you, I am not waiting for Buhari to wipe away my tears if I have any
DeleteVisiting to share concerns, advice, etc is different from partisanship or involvement in partisan politics. In the old, passed over time till now, the concept of ‘separation of the church from the State’ is what the president is talking about. And this has been a long practise from medieval time to date. And it is true, when clergies and clerics miss this point of getting involved in partisan politics rather than being moral compass, guides, sincere critics, then their value shrinks. That is what is meant here. Not a mere visit.
ReplyDeleteReligion has always been part of leadership, so is talking rubbish, from bible times with all the prophets to Rome and the Catholic Church to this date, you can’t leave religion out of it
DeleteInterestingly, you mentioned the Catholic Church and historical Rome to date, but what your thesis failed to do is missing the point that the concept of ‘separation of the church from the state’ was and intact still a very catholic doctrine from medieval Rome. Furthermore, Prophets ‘interfered’ in leadership structures and systems not by involvement or by being partisan. Rather, there were busy with checking balancing, acted as moral guides and compasses, spoke truth to power in cases of injustice, oppression, etc. The reason people of religious teaching were made to avoid being in this kind of position, was to prevent them from getting corrupted by the systems, from being bias just as we saw in the case of Rev Jolly Nyame of Taraba and even Apostle Suleiman. Father Mbaka’s status before and after the 2015 elections changed. I am sure you are one of those who accuse him now of biting his fingers in regret. The reason is clear from Buhari’s statement above. Words should not be understood merely as a piece to be critiqued, but to be understood in its entirety and intent. Context is very important. More lessons on religion history, especially medieval times would help.
DeleteThis is just the bitter truth.....but are u realky putin into action wat u preachin...mr bubu
ReplyDeleteMc pinky
He is not advising clerics to avoid politics but to avoid partisan politics. Now it doesn't matter whether a cleric is supporting him or not. It doesn't matter if it's Mbaka or Apostle Suleiman. He is speaking to all of them
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't he speak out then when they were visiting and campaigning for him? Was his mouth on strike then?
DeleteBut Kumuyi and other clergymen had been visiting him since and he didn't make any statement about it. Now the table is turned and he starts to cry? Practice what you preach old man.
ReplyDeleteVisiting is not involvement in PARTISAN politics. Visiting could be to complain about the system, advise, etc. Read the stuff well.
DeleteOyedapo has always been against him and he doesn't hide it, when the righteous rules there are shouts of joy...now we have shouts of sorrows, grand pa bubu pls start packing your load biko, thank you for the 4 worst Nigerians experienced.
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But Rev Father Mbaka supported him.
ReplyDeleteBuhari your hypocrite is top notch so you have forgotten that religious leaders are part of the citizens & as citizens they have right to support whomever they want huh? They are leaders of alots of people who look up-to them when the country is going agog to defend them, until you understand that religious leaders are part of the system then you must learn how to shut up, any Christian that vote buhari supports the killing in benue, taraba, pleatue, nasarawa, Kano, kaduna and the blood of the innocent will cry upon that person & his household
ReplyDeleteWhen Reverend Father Mbaka visited him in 2015 after the APC won the elections, why didn't he say this?
ReplyDelete