Laura Iveren Ikyase PhD
Department of Christian Religious Studies,
College of Education Katsina- Ala
&
Terver Mnda
Political Science Department
College of Education, Katsina-Ala
tervermnda@gmail.com
08165414927
Abstract
Nigeria is a nation where Christianity and Islam are practiced as main religions. Normally one would think that the crop of leadership that emerges at every government should be gotten from the Christian or Muslim population. This paper therefore employs secondary sources of data collection and the narrative approach in carrying out research. The paper set out to discuss the morality of clergy persons participating in national politics. To achieve this, the paper discuses the different views as regarding morality of getting involved with politics as a Christian or Muslim clergy. Christians who are against involvement in politics argue that there are no biblical examples to support today’s Christian activism or involvement in politics. Liberal Christians speaking in favour of social activism argue that it may not totally be correct to say that there was no biblical example to support Christian involvement in politics. In Islam on the other hand the power to govern is not restricted because Allah is recognized as the one who ultimately holds all political power or authority. African traditionalists are not left out in the concept of divine right. In a typical African society, the rulers were also seen as gods or agents of gods. They believed that these agents of the gods possessed both divine and secular powers to do and undo as pleases the gods. They were traditional priests, custodians and supreme judges in all traditional matters. From a secular perspective people believe that the indiscriminate money politics which leads to the deterioration of the democratic and electoral culture where the electoral process is not perceived as a frame work for leadership recruitment but for money is one of the reasons people use to discourage religious people from active participation in politics. This paper concludes that it is not right to let politics become a cesspool and then avoid it. In view of the fact that power is inescapable and of the divine origin and nature, it is clearly natural that true Christians and Muslims, as the organized body of the people of God or Allah must be in politics to reorganize the system and bring about development in Nigeria. The paper suggests that Christian and Muslim clergy should participate in politics; hence a true Christian or Muslim clergy will see and interpret power in terms of service, justice, love and peace. Also Nigerians should not allow themselves to be wooed over by people who parade themselves as professional politicians, with nothing to offer. Voters must look for evidence of distinguished service, distinction and integrity in the candidate’s primary vocations before casting their ballot for them.
Keywords.Clergy persons, National politics, Religion
