2023: Cleric warns in opposition to utilizing faith as marketing campaign software

The Nationwide Coordinator of  Progressive Pastors Platform Reverend Adebayo Ayokunle has referred to as on spiritual leaders to encourage their members and followers to marketing campaign as Nigerians and never as Christians or Muslims, urging them to desist from  campaigning solely for candidates that might favour their faith or ethnic group.

In keeping with Reverend Ayokunle in a press release in Kaduna on Sunday, expertise had proven that such expectations will not be life like.

The assertion famous that the platform have watched with eager curiosity the spiritual sentiments and agitations that greeted the emergence of the candidates of the assorted events.

It stated The Platform acknowledged the truth that everybody, together with spiritual leaders, have a proper to belong to and vote for any political social gathering or candidate of their selection, including that no spiritual chief or group of non secular leaders beneath any guise or umbrella has the authorized or non secular proper to compel, cajole, coerce or manipulate their members or followers to hate or disdain any political social gathering or candidate. 

“That is clearly opposite to the message of affection and peace that’s the core of the religions we profess.

“As spiritual leaders, we should acknowledge the truth that we’ve a blended inhabitants of residents that belong to totally different religions with totally different denominations and sects so, no matter our private views and preferences, we’ve a sacred and patriotic divine obligation to downplay points that divide us and focus extra on points that serve our frequent pursuits as residents of Nigeria. 

“As we go about our campaigns, we encourage all Nigerians to advertise solely candidates which have good management antecedents, confirmed capability, programmes and insurance policies that may favour all Nigerians as a result of, everybody no matter their faith or tribe will probably be beneficiaries of whichever authorities emerges beneath any of the events. 

“Moreover, we Nigerians ought to word that if we need to have excellent leaders, then the false notion {that a} political social gathering or candidate is for or in opposition to a specific faith or tribe MUST be discarded. 

“Such views are borne out of political ignorance, misinformation and/or pure mischief and needs to be discarded from our society. 

“From historic details and current day experiences, all Nigerians ought to know that our current state of underdevelopment was brought on by unhealthy leaders from all religions and tribes.” 

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