The honk of the 2023 general elections has continued to blare very loud, with some state and non-state actors anxious to see the electoral umpire drop the ball on the pitch and blowing the whistle for the game to kick start.
In any case, there are mixed feelings and divergent views on who should, or should not attempt to pick the relay baton for the 2023 presidential race. This concern may also be connected to issues of power rotation, age factor, ethnic and religious considerations amongst others.
In recent times, we have seen build ups to the election campaign and different permutations in the political circle. One issue that has continued to raise dust within the governing party however, is that of who will succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
With the party’s recent zoning arrangement and its just concluded national convention, many are also sensing that the next President of Nigeria may come from the south. And so, the big question ‘’Who will eventually succeed the President, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd)?. Whilst many anxiously await President’s declaration of his preferred candidate, there are indications that the successor may likely come from his cabinet, an idea which may not go well with some key players. But be that as it may, let’s look at party structure and grassroots involvement in electioneering. As such, one cannot also underestimate the important role of the non-state actors like religious bodies in the electioneering process in Nigeria.
Recently, a memo surfaced online of a circular from the headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God RCCG, on the creation of a department of political affairs which should be replicated in all parishes of the church. This development as suggested by some political analysts may not be unconnected to the 2023 presidential ambition of the Vice President of Nigeria Professor Yemi Osinbajo who is also a Pastor in RCCG.
Now, even though Pastor Yemi Osinbajo who is also a chieftain of the governing party All Progressives Congress APC, has not yet declared openly his ambition, there are indicators such as online publication and mobilization, production of ‘’Osinbajo 2023 Ankara Fabric’’, and the opening of a political office in Abuja. All of which analysts say could be linked to the establishment of the political unit in RCCG, especially as the church remains one of the largest congregations in the country.
However, for many who know the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye is one of those Clerics who hardly patronize or grant audience to the press most especially on sensitive matters such as politics or state of the nation. Hence, a difficult puzzle to unravel. And so, it became an amusement to congregants who attended the first Sunday Service in April of the Church, at its headquarters in Lagos when Daddy G.O began his message with what he termed ‘’Putting The Record Straight’’. Though a slight deviation from the Sunday Sermon which is titled ‘’Waiting Without Wasting’’.
Pastor Adeboye started his remark by saying ‘’I Pastor Adeboye is not a Politician, I have never been a Politician, I don’t intend to be a Politician and I will never be a Politician’’. He says ‘’my calling is to be a Pastor and pray for you, the country and the world’’.
From a journalistic point of view, there could be another dimension to this statement as the expression on the faces of the listeners as well as the chain of reaction suggest. But certainly, the Cleric was unshaken as long as the message is clear and the record is put forward straight. Pastor Adeboye continues his message by saying that governance is very sensitive and important to the existence of the people and so, they must get involved. ‘’You were first a Nigerian, before becoming a Christian’’. He said it is important and in fact compulsory for the Church members to register and get their permanent voters card handy and vote in the next election and also wait after casting their ballots for the counting no matter their various choices of candidates or political affiliation.
As Pastor Adeboye charges on in his first Sunday message, he said ‘’the only reason why I don’t vote is that, there are appreciable number of members of different political parties in the church and as such, it will be unfair to vote for a particular candidate or party as you all are my Children. He stressed that his preferred candidate is God’s will.
‘’I have no preferred candidate, my job is to pray, and any candidate that comes to me for prayer, I will pray for the perfect will of God to be done in the fellow’s life. So, nobody should distract me’’.
This submission therefore puts to rest the flying dusts about the church’s supposed involvement and choice of candidate for the 2023 presidential election.
Pastor Adeboye also gave insight on what presently pre-occupies his mind which is a bit different from the 2023 race. But before then is this revelation. As a matter of fact, the cleric is not sure if truly there will be election in 2023. He said, ‘’for those of you, who will quote me, please quote me correctly: I have not received any message from God yet concerning 2023 elections. I didn’t say there won’t be election, but I don’t know yet’’. He said ‘’I am a Pastor, but I know some of you are prophets and you hear directly from God, should we have anyone who is sure that election will hold, that fellow should come out and we will clap for him or her’’. Pastor Adeboye said the time for 2023 elections is still far away and as such, there is no cause for alarm. He said as at June 2018, God had spoken to him about the 2019 general elections, but that is not to say election will not hold as we are still in April he said.
He stated further that, even though 2023 general elections and the whole process of electioneering is important to him and Nigeria as a whole, there are more important issues that needs to be addressed before the 2023 elections, otherwise, generations to come will live to pay dearly for it.
First is the recent attack on Abuja-Kaduna Train, in which some people lost their lives, others, sustaining injuries and some persons still missing. And the question is Why Kaduna? Who is trying to isolate Kaduna? After Kaduna, which is next? Who are those behind the attacks? Who are their sponsors? What is their intension?
The other issue raised by the revered cleric and octogenarian, is the shortage of oil. Pastor Adeboye made reference to a recent News publication where over 80% of the total oil production is being stolen. Again, there are questions to be answered. Who is stealing the oil? Who are those buying the stolen oil? Where is the money going to? What role has the foreign countries? Are these foreign countries truly your friends? And lastly, what is the intension of these foreign countries?.
The third issue raised by the G.O is that of the foreign debt. He says, with Nigeria’s current debt profile and continuous borrowings, generations to come might have to struggle so hard to pay back the debt. ‘’Nigeria needs God’s intervention to erase the debt. Afterall, during the administration of former president Obasanjo, Nigeria got debt pardon. And so, God can still do it if we call on him’’.
Now that the records have been put straight and the revelation about his line of thoughts revealed, Pastor Adeboye also gave answer to Critics who continuously distract him and those who question his interest in politics and affairs of the country. ‘’We can’t continue to fold our arms and allow people who we are not sure of, to continue to decide our lives and future. If witches and wizards can be so interested and involved in the process of governance, how much more believers?’’.
Summarily, it is clear that no one can make a categorical statement on the outcome of the 2023 polls or who will succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, but one thing is clear, whoever emerges as the next President, will have a lot of debris to clear and also forge a new trajectory of governance, if Nigeria must achieve a sustainable and meaningful economic growth with everyone getting involved.#
Doyin Diya is a Political and Security Correspondent with years of experience. He served as the Head of News and Current Affairs at the Nigerian Customs Broadcasting Network.
Phone: +234(0) 7034615893, 08087320009.
Email: otunbadoyindiya@gmail.com