Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged politicians and their supporters to refrain from invoking the name of Jesus Christ in The post 2027: Leave Jesus out of political battles, CAN warns politicians appeared first on Tribune Online .
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged politicians and their supporters to refrain from invoking the name of Jesus Christ in partisan political battles ahead of the 2027 general elections.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, gave the warning in a statement issued on Wednesday, following comments by Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama Pee, in which she referenced Jesus Christ while making a political point concerning former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, and the 2027 elections.
Okoh acknowledged that political discourse could be passionate and that such remarks might be intended to make a point, but stressed the need for Christians and other Nigerians to exercise restraint when bringing religious figures into political debates.
According to him, Jesus Christ should not be treated as a political candidate, campaign slogan or weapon for advancing the interests of one politician against another.
“Jesus Christ is not a political candidate, a campaign slogan or a weapon to advance one politician against another,” Okoh said.
He warned that political loyalty should not become so intense that supporters begin to describe politicians in ways that diminish the reverence due to Christ.
The CAN president noted that Nigerians have the freedom to support or criticise any political candidate, including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Tinubu, but urged citizens to focus political debates on issues that directly affect the country.
“We are free to support Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu or any other candidate. We are equally free to criticise them. But our political loyalty must never become so intense that we begin to speak of politicians in terms that diminish the reverence due to Christ,” he said.
Okoh urged political actors and their supporters to centre electoral conversations on competence, character, policies, performance and the future of Nigeria rather than religiously charged partisan rhetoric.
He stressed that no politician should be regarded as the Messiah and that no political party could claim to represent the salvation associated with Christ.
“No politician is the Messiah. No political party represents the salvation of the human spirit that Christ epitomizes. And no electoral victory is worth compromising the honour due to His name,” he said.
As Nigeria approaches another crucial electoral season, the CAN president called on politicians, their supporters and all Nigerians to conduct political conversations responsibly and respectfully.
“Let us argue about competence, character, policies, performance and the future of Nigeria. Let us disagree passionately if necessary, but let us leave Jesus Christ out of our partisan quarrels,” Okoh added.
