Religion, Politics and Integrity: A Discourse About Fostering Political Participation by the Church in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the role being played by the Church in Nigerian politics. Jesus Christ is presented as the ideal politician, who came with a model political manifesto. Furthermore, the paper examined the areas of strengths and weaknesses of the Church in its role in fostering political unity among Christians in Nigeria today. It states that one key area where this could be achieved is by ‘baptising politics’ as a weapon of development and empowerment of Christians and not treat it as dirt, which to be shunned. The comparative approach is used in this paper. This work, among other things, compared the five models of political participation by the Church supplied by Ernest Munachi Ezeogu (2008). Major research findings show that the Church in Nigeria encourages good Christians to stay away from the murky waters of politics, leaving it for the ‘wicked’, thus making ‘the people to mourn’ rather than for them to ‘rejoice’ when genuine Christians are in power. Among recommendations is the obvious fact that, the Church should play active role in selecting candidates for elective political office. It should play the role of ‘king makers’ with respect to politics and simultaneously be ready to bless and give sabbaticals to pastors that are interested in testing the grounds and tasting the waters of politics. The Church should be active in partisan politics because this will get righteous people into the corridors of power, authorize them and galvanize real development (Proverbs 29:2).