Christian Leaders and Bribery Slander

by Femi Badmus
The position of many religious leaders regarding the forth coming 2015 elections in Nigeria is well known to many, as a result of the media onslaught on their views. It has now reached a point that one begins to wonder, if there was even a slight chance to change their views, how much would one offer the religious leaders to get them to shift their position about who they perceive the next president or state governor or legislator should be.

In this light, one tends to wonder why an article recently published by an online blogging platform would suggest that N50,000 is the ‘new price’ to change the minds of a religious leader. This is completely dishonoring and ridiculous to say of revered persons in our country and one must learn to desist from acts like these that would drag the names of religious leaders into the mud. It is wrong!

Mr. John Kennedy Opara who is the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) was mentioned by the same online media channel as a man who regularly meets with religious leaders and allegedly ‘bribes’ them to support the President of Nigeria in every area including the forth-coming elections.

This is a complete misrepresentation of the personality of Mr. John Kennedy Opara who by mandate of his office, is tasked with the responsibility of meeting the Christian leaders across Nigeria on a regular basis for the purpose of promoting Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria.

So, as politicians continue to campaign in the month of February until the elections are over, we must remind ourselves that it is better to avoid scenarios where we drag religious bodies, their leadership and duties through unnecessary political battle arenas. Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what belongs to God.

Badmus is a public affairs analyst. He writes from Ibadan, Nigeria.