OPINION: Nigerian Politics Impossible Without Religion

Legit.ng's guest author Ohia Imelda insists that religion is part and parcel of Nigerian politics, and the two practices should be perceived and treated as a single entity.

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Separating religion from politics is a rebellion against God. It nudges a country into a communal sin, and, consequently, communal curse and punishment.

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any nation" (Proverbs 14:34). Many pastors easily quote this Bible passage to their congregation without knowing what it implies. This is why all in a row should not be called to preach Bible only to give wrong interpretations to it. The occult clergymen and women want to sell our polity to their fellow occult politicians, and, just as some blind guides, they echo that religion should be separated from politics.

"Man is by nature a political animal," Aristotle said famously. So why don't they remove God entirely from their lives and families and face consequences? Why don't they build churches in the sky, rather than on earth, where we have a political environment? Why do they register their churches with the government when they insist that religion has no relationship with politics? Why do they honour invitations from the government to political gatherings that would require concelebration?

No reasonable person will fail to understand that religion and politics are two sides of the same coin. However, this is not inclusive of imposing one's religion forcefully on others, thereby trampling down one's fundamental human right. Nigeria is a multi-religious nation, and each religion is free to be heard, but should not to be imposed on others.

There is no realistic religious practice in Nigeria. That is why corruption has eaten deep into the fabrics of our polity. Worse still, nowadays corruption is emanating from some of the ministers of God. They have merchandised their prophetic mission because of the fleeting pleasures of this world. They have closed their eyes and are "oblivious" to the ubiquitous corruption. They have sealed their mouths so as not to condemn evil practices of the wicked politicians. They are afraid of persecutions. It is clear that the Spirit of God is not not present in most of these clerics, "for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and love and self discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). Heaven is not meant for cowards, but for radicals. "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of God has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12).

There are so many biblical references about the genuine prophets using their powers to condemn evils in the society. God said to Prophet Ezekiel, "If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die', and you give them no warning, or speak to warn the wicked from their wicked way, in order to save their life, those wicked persons shall die for their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand" (Ezekiel 3:18). John the Baptist fearlessly condemned King Herod for coveting his brother's wife Herodias (Matthew14:1-4). Prophet Nathan condemned King David for committing adultery with Bethsheba Uriah's wife and killing of Uriah (2 Samuel 12:1-12). Prophet Gad condemned David for taking census of Israel and asked David to choose one out of the three punishments God will send to him (2 Samuel 24:10-17). King of Assyria Sennachrib reviled the God of Israel, and Prophet Isaiah sent message about the death of King Sennacharib (Isaiah 37:5-7). Samuel used his prophetic power to condemned unlawful sacrifice made by King Saul, and said that his kingship will be taken away from him (1 Samuel 13:1-14, and 1 Samuel 15:10-23). Prophet Daniel fearlessly interpreted the writing on the wall to King Belshazzar that God has brought his kingdom to an end (Daniel 5:13-28). Prophet Jonah was sent to prophesy against the wickedness of the people of Ninevah and their impending destruction (Jonah 3:1-5).

Ministers of God are mortals with their own human frailties. We should continue to pray for them to sit up and make good use of their prophetic calls in pleasing and glorifying God. God said through Prophet Malachi, "And now, O Priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my Name says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse on you and I will curse your blessings, indeed I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. I will rebuke your offerings, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and I will put you out of my presence" (Malachi 2:1-3).

May God bless, protect, sanctify all his Ministers and have mercy on us all, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen! 

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Source: Legit.ng