Daniel UGWO

The Parish Priest, Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Pro-Cathedral, Lagere, Ile-Ife, Rev. Fr. (Dr) Peter Adeyemi has recently stressed the advantages of having good Christians participating in partisan politics. According to him, Christ described Christians as the 'light of the world and salt of the earth. In other words, he emphasized that exercising such qualities cannot be limited within individual family and Church community but rather applied in the challenging political terrain of Nigeria as a country. The Priest educates that human is by nature a political being inasmuch as he is involved in decision making, administration of resources - including human governance. While he did not dispute the fact that Christians are not of the world despite in the world, he argued that the Christian religion does not restrict believers from participating in the affair of the world that they live in, but in creative and productive manner. He totally agreed with Pluto, the Greek philosopher - asserting that the punishment for the wise who refuses to participate in politics is that they would be ruled by fools. Biblically speaking, according to the man of God; "to be salt of the earth and light of the world requires contending responsibly for godly standards wherever such is under assault.’ His thought further aligns with that of Tom Minnery, asserting that, there is no escaping the mixture of religion and politics; reason being that, almost every law is the result of somebody's judgement about what is good and bad. Fr Adeyemi believed that the implications of good Christians distancing themselves from partisan politics enormously outweigh reasons for distancing themselves. He agreed that many trusted and respected Christians have compromised themselves in the past and that the nation's politic is critically corrupt; however, the purpose of God for politics and governance is noble. Christians, according to him, have the obligation of making their voices heard by getting involved. Furthermore, he said, "when good Christians participate in politics, they will bring Christian values such as: compassion, integrity, accountability, transparency, honestly and service for the common good to bear on what they do. They can be strong advocate for justice, fairness, equality and good governance.” In a country like Nigeria where there is a thin line between religion and politics, Fr Adeyemi encouraged capable Christians to be fully involved in partisan politics, they should shun political apathy; Christians with talent, knowledge and interest should stand up and move out with courage to contest for elective offices.