2023: Ex-deputy Senate president Ekweremadu charges churches to get involved in politics
- Former deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, said that churches must play their roles in deepening Nigeria's democracy
- Ekweremadu made this known in Onitsha on Thursday, February 11
- The senator added that it would not be in the interest of the country if the churches stay away from politics
PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
Senator Ike Ekweremadu, a former deputy Senate president, has urged churches and devout Christians to actively get involved in politics ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Daily Trust reports that he described the indifference of churches toward politics as self-exclusion from nation-building.
Legit.ng gathered that he said the active involvement of the church in politics would foster development, national identity and create stability in society.
Source: Twitter
The PDP chieftain made this known in a paper titled ‘The role of the church and politician in politics and democratic nation-building’, which he delivered at the standing committee forum of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Church), in Onitsha on Thursday, February 11.
The senator also enjoined Christians in politics to be exemplary and lead by biblical principles.
He said:
“Oftentimes, you hear Christians say that the church should not be involved in politics. That, by extension, is self-exclusion in the task of nation-building,” Ekweremadu was quoted as saying in a statement by his media aide Uche Anichukwu.
“It is important that the church does not remain aloof, but should play a decisive role in the task of nation-building. In doing so, she helps to foster development, national identity, and create stability in society.
“It is this lack of national identity and instability that has brought our country to where it is today. It is the lack of national identity that has fostered the divisiveness in our country and created the insecurity which we now experience.”
Ekweremadu said the church could participate in politics and nation-building without being partisan by engaging in political education and mass mobilisation for political participation.
PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet!
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that following the high rate of insecurity in Nigeria, Ekweremadu urged the federal government to end insurgency in the country.
It was reported that he said President Muhammadu Buhari-led government should not be ashamed of approaching countries that have the capacity to help Nigeria secure her sovereignty, the citizenry as well as protect its nascent democracy.
Ekweremadu stated this during the inauguration of Abonnema Ring road in Akuku Toru local government area of the state on Thursday, January 7.
Wale Akinola is a passionate journalist and researcher. He works as a senior political/current affairs editor at Legit.ng. He holds both B.A and Master’s degree in Communications and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan. He also holds a Diploma Certificate in Peace Journalism. He has over 15 years of work experience in both print and online media. He derives joy in keeping the public abreast of current happenings locally and internationally through his writings.
Source: Legit.ng
