Religious leaders have no business campaigning for politicians -Clergymen

Religious leaders have been cautioned against using their positions and influence to impose political candidates on their followers.

They described the trend of faith leaders actively campaigning for political candidates as abusing the trust of their followers.

This was disclosed at an event to commemorate the United Nation’s day celebration in Abuja on Wednesday, organised by the Universal Peace Federation.

Religious leaders from different faith unanimously called for the maintenance of the sacredness of religious institutions.

The Imam of An-Nur Mosque Wuse, Abuja Dr. Abdulfattah Adeyemi, acknowledged the inseparable connection between religious leaders and politics, stating that these leaders also have the right to choose and support candidates of their choice personally.

He however warned that using the pulpit to campaign will only cause chaos and disunity among the congregation.

“Don’t forget the Imams and Pastors are citizens of this country, they also have the right to vote and be voted for.

“But what they don’t have the right to do is to convert the pulpit to a campaign ground.

“When we preach the message of God let it be used for such only, without converting it to campaign gimmicks,” he stated.

In line with the UN Day celebration, Reverend Imo Nkanta of the Unification Church Lagos, emphasized the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence among all religion faithful, stating that the family unit should be effectively explored to bolster peace in Nigeria.

Rev. Nkanta insisted that inter tribal and inter religious marriages is a potent tool towards combating incessant conflicts and crisis across the country.

“We cannot continue to live amongst ourselves with borders separating us, we have to build bridges.

“The conflicts the country is facing government alone can solve it, practical solutions like focusing on the family unit is the another way to reducing the rife between us,” he maintained.

In tandem with the aim of establishing the United Nations decades ago, the critical engagement of religious institutions in fostering peaceful coexistence cannot come at a better time.