…says politics of faith could destroy Nigeria
Human rights activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju has condemned what he described as the renewed use of religious platforms and sentiments for political mobilisation ahead of future elections.
In a statement on Tuesday, Adeyanju cautioned politicians against turning churches and other places of worship into campaign grounds, warning that the growing intersection of religion and partisan politics could deepen divisions in the country.
The activist specifically faulted the alleged renewed patronage of churches by the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, saying the country must not return to the religious mobilisation that, according to him, polarised Nigerians during the 2023 general election.
He insisted that the same standard must apply to all political actors, irrespective of party affiliation or political interest.
According to Adeyanju, elections should be contests of ideas, policies and competing visions for Nigeria’s development rather than platforms for exploiting religious differences.
He said, “Elections should be about ideas, policies and competing visions for Nigeria. Religion and politics should never be allowed to become instruments of division.
“The church is not a place for political campaigns or political gimmicks, and politicians are not pastors.”
Adeyanju urged pastors and other religious leaders to resist the temptation to allow politicians to use places of worship to campaign or seek endorsements.
He said religious leaders risked undermining the sanctity of worship centres and their moral authority if they continued to provide platforms for partisan political activities.
“Pastors and religious leaders should stop giving politicians platforms to campaign or seek endorsements in church,” he said.
He warned that Nigeria could pay a heavy price if political actors continued to deploy religion as a weapon in the struggle for power.
“At what cost will it be when we continue to divide ourselves along religious lines using the weapon of politics? At what cost?” he asked.
Adeyanju said the religious and ethnic tensions that characterised the 2023 election should serve as a warning to politicians and religious leaders ahead of subsequent electoral contests.
“The bad precedent set in 2023 should not be repeated, let alone worsened,” he said.
“Pastors must desist from platforming politicians if they are to retain their respect and keep the house of God sacred,” he said.
The comments come amid growing concerns over the role of religion and ethnicity in Nigeria’s electoral politics, particularly following the sharp divisions that emerged during the 2023 presidential election.
The 2023 polls witnessed intense debates over faith, ethnicity and political representation, with religious considerations becoming a major issue in the campaigns and public discourse surrounding the election.
As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the next general election, Adeyanju warned political leaders, clerics, and other stakeholders against reopening religious fault lines, insisting that Nigeria’s unity and stability must take precedence over electoral ambitions.
