The governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has asked church leaders to be apolitical to enable them to tell the truth to power.
Speaking yesterday during the St. Moses Orimolade 7th memorial lecture themed 'The Church as a catalyst for good governance in Nigeria' Adeleke, who admonished the church to be forthright in telling truth to power, said, "The Church must return to the era of speaking truth to power. As Pope John Paul 11 said in 1994, the Church must continue to exercise its prophetic role and be the voice of the voiceless, so that everywhere the human dignity of every individual will be acknowledged and that people will always be at the centre of all government.
"Silence by the church is not an option. The church must speak loudly about free and fair elections, the dignity of all human beings, superiority of public good over private interests, respect for the supremacy of the constitution, observance of the rule of law, and equality of all citizens before the law. As a sitting governor, I firmly believe the church should mount advocacy on what impedes good governance, namely autocracy, dictatorship, arbitrariness, culture of impunity, self-perpetuation in office, suppression of opposition, corruption, and failure to respond to aspirations of the people. Only a leader divinely guided can deliver good governance, restore public faith in politics, avoid self-enrichment, resolve societal poverty, and observe the rule of law. In memory of our spiritual father, I, as a governor, emphasized fear of God in decision-making. Public interest is our moral compass. I govern strictly under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Hence, I strongly attribute my successes so far to my submission to the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit. My model is what the political class needs. In line with the evangelism of our founding fathers, the Church must support the political class in this quest. Only then can the delivery of good governance become a reality."
On his part, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, who was represented by the Reverend Evans Onyemara, urged church leaders to be apolitical "Church leaders can look political leaders in the face to discuss issues affecting the people.
"When church leaders have the opportunity to meet political office holders, they should know that they are not representing themselves but the people.
"It is important we tell ourselves the truth; have we not failed? We must hold leaders accountable, as the church is too silent and quiet. When the youth protested again, ending bad governance, how many church leaders spoke to the occasion? There's pressure in the North, and people are moving to the South. Instead of church leaders talking about pressing issues like insecurity and terrorism, among others, church leaders are busy talking about tithes." Okoh further urged the church to "establish church-based advocacy groups in her role as a catalyst for good governance."
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In the same vein, the convener of the lecture, Baba Aladura, David Bob-Manuel, stressed in his remarks that "the world and indeed the Nigerian nation are looking unto the church to provide the catalyst or the balm to assuage the suffering in the land. It is only by preaching the true gospel, righteousness, and doing it that the church can take its rightful position and then provide a direction for good governance."
