I just googled the word ‘partisan’ and got two definitions: First is ‘a strong supporter of a party, cause or person’. The second is ‘one who is prejudiced in favour of a partisan cause’. As a Catholic priest, I am comfortable with the first definition but I will not like to identify myself with the second. I had a long argument last night with a priest friend, Fr Chinenye Oluoma where we ratiocinated extensively on the new dilemma of many Catholic priests.
To what extent can we politically enlighten our people in the present dispensation of Nigeria without being partisan? To what extent can we exercise our prophetic ministry as priests, both in the pulpit, social and print media without being partisan? To what extent can we specifically spell out to our people, for instance, the wrongs we have witnessed in our mega parties (APC and PDP) such as godfatherism, consumerism, bribery and corruption, vote buying and selling, constitutional incongruency, etc without being partisan? Now that the above maladies have resulted in the ugly outcome of the two mega parties presenting us with two old incompetent Presidential candidates (by my judgement), how do we enlighten our people on the imminent dangers?
To what extent can we provide leadership to our teaming generation of Nigerian Youths, frustrated and wandering like sheep without shepherd? To what extent can we also protect our lives as Catholic priests who have become the most endangered species in matters of insecurity in Nigeria today? With the number of bandits, herdsmen, kidnappers, unknown gunmen populating our roads, bushes and farmlands, even if others decide to seat at home, we are obliged by our vocational/professional responsibilities to be on the road in order to attend to the pastoral needs of our Parishes and Communities. For this, a number of priests have lost their lives in recent times. Should we keep quiet and avoid condemning a brutal and insensitive government that has put us in this quagmire and discourage our flock from voting them back to power, so that we shall not be seen as partisan? Friends, you can see that we are held between the devil and the deep blue sea.
That said, we welcome with joy the emergence of a ray of hope; an alternative third force coming in form of the ‘New Labour Party’ led by the charming elegant personality of Peter Obi. The new Labour Party is made up of 2 major groups:
The Traditional/conventional Politicians who have their vested political interests such as vying for electoral posts or government appointments. These traditional/conventional politicians are usually prejudiced. They cannot vote for or listen to views from people outside their party.
The ‘non partisan’ members who come into Labour Party temporarily just to help build the requisite structure to enable Peter Obi win this forthcoming election.
We need to take note that the new Nigerian electorate are made up of the following target population:
Elites; highly educated people, whether Christian or Non Christian who ordinarily go for the candidate of better competence.
Youths; many are frustrated Nigerian students both Christians, Muslims and non pious ones who want a change. Many have become highly OBIdient and bought the new mantra against vote buying and selling (WE NO DE GIVE SHISHI) and the new mantra for accountability (GO AND VERIFY).
Workers; many of our Nigerian workers have suffered the groans from our debilitating economy and want any leader that gives them hope for a change.
Christians (especially Priests); many of whom feel threatened by the unhealthy structures of the present government.
Non Christians (especially embittered Muslims); who have a desire for a peaceful and progressive Nigeria and who, ipso facto are not happy with the status quo.
Aggrieved members of the mega parties; many who lost primary elections in the APC and PDP are naturally going to be defecting to any 3rd force parties such as the Labour Party, NNPP and so on.
Let us be fully apprehensive of the above mentioned points rather than sit back and conclude that Peter Obi is going nowhere. Let us watch as the events of the next few months unfold. Let our priests also realize that they have a duty of conscience when there is a war between light and darkness, as we have in Nigeria today, to politically enlighten our people to choose light. For instance, it is our duty as priests to demonize “vote buying” and show by example by resisting the alluring donations coming from these evil Politicians at this critical time.
The Prophet Hosea is still lamenting that ‘My people perish for lack of knowledge…and since you yourself have rejected knowledge, I shall reject you from my priesthood’, Hosea 4: 6. May this not be our portion in Nigeria!
