By Tejiri Ebikeme
Ahead of this Month’s General Elections, the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change has cautioned against the directive being given to members of Redeemed Christian Church of God [RCCG] nationwide that they must vote for the APC Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd).
Buhari’s running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo is a Provincial Senior Pastor of RCCG.
The group warned that any attempt for members of the church to be directed to vote for a Muslim in the person of General Buhari will be resisted, saying; “Why must a church direct all its members nationwide to cast their vote for a Muslim whose intention is to Islamized the nation?”.
The group gave the warning in a press statement endorsed by its President, Nelly Emma; Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer, Stanley Mukoro.
“Information reaching us has it that members of RCCG nationwide are being directed on a daily basis during services that they must vote for Buhari, a die-hard Muslim who does not believe in the unity and oneness of Nigeria. We dare say that this is wrong and we hereby condemn such misleading directive. Nigerians should be allowed to make a free choice during the general election and not a Church taking it up itself to direct all its members to vote for an ethnic bigotry, Buhari who do not mean well for Nigerians. Muslim clerics in the North are not urging Muslims to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan”, the group wrote.
While calling on President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor to prevail on the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye on the vexed matter, the Niger Delta group said, “What the Church should be doing at this critical time of our national life is to pray for the nation and the people, pray for a peaceful election and telling Nigerians to make a credible choice in the February’s elections”.
According to the group; “We know that RCCG is all over the World and a respected Church for that matter. When Pastors of the Church have now made it a point of duty to be campaigning for a Muslim Presidential Candidate, what will be the confidence of our people in the South South region. The Church should not be seen to be promoting tribal and personal interest and we are imploring the General Overseer to come out publicly if he has nothing to do with it to distance himself from the directive being dished by Pastors to members of the Church to vote for a Muslim Presidential Candidate and caution his Pastors over the matter. Church is not for politics”.
Wondering whether it was material things, RCCG was looking for, the group stated that the Church should be concerned about the spiritual growth of members rather than seeking for things of the world.
The group also wrote; “We are not bothered if Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo is contesting to support a core Muslim from the North, he has made his choice, but innocent Nigerians must not be forced to vote for a Muslim Presidential Candidate, they should be encouraged to make their own choice. RCCG must separate itself from politics in order to continue to enjoy the trust, respect and confidence of the people, especially its teeming members.”
“Just only yesterday (Monday), the President escaped death in Gombe State where he has gone for a campaign rally. Bombs went off in the venue of the rally, few minutes after the departure of the President and yet Pastors of a reputable Church like RCCG are instructing members to vote for Buhari from the North. The President has experienced series of attacks from the North since he commenced his Presidential campaign and we are tempted to ask if Christians are now supporting the war from Muslims in the North against President Jonathan,” they stated.
They added that, “We need to know too if the General Overseer of RCCG was spoken to by God before he allowed Prof. Osinbanjo to be a running mate to the APC Presidential candidate, General Buhari because we do know that members of RCCG have total confidence in their General Overseer and when he is seen on Television without a physical touch, people sees the Holy Spirit moving in Pastor Adeboye; he is one man seen by many like Abraham in the Bible. We want to implore the General Overseer that this respect and confidence he has enjoyed over the years and the grace of God upon him should not be abused. We need to know from him if God made a special revelation to him about this journey his Provincial Senior Pastor, Prof. Osinbanjo has embarked upon with a Muslim. We urge the General Overseer to speak out now for the whole world to hear.”
