2023: Adebayo urges collaboration between State and religion

…Says they’re like Siamese twins
…To prioritize food security, housing, education, others
….We’ll not endorse any candidate, CAN
….Says No enmity with any political party

By News Editor

The candidate of Social Democratic Party, SDP, for the February 25, 2023 presidential election, Prince Adewole Adebayo has promised to prioritize food security, housing, education and infrastructure development if elected into the office.

Prince Adebayo, made the promise on Tuesday in Abuja, when he met with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, to discuss issues of concern to Christians in the country ahead of the 2023 elections.

The presidential hopeful, who also pledged to address the abject poverty currently ravaging the country, lamented that people are hungry.

He also pledged to fully implement CAN’s 11-point demand, contained in the Association’s strategic policy document that was presented to him of elected president in 2023.

The SDP presidential candidate told the CAN’s leadership that it was wrong to separate the state from religion in the pursuit of common good for all.

According to him, “Both are like Siamese and mutually reinforcing each other for the peace and progress of the nation, but regretted that unscrupulous politicians seek to break that bond between the two.

“That is why leaders when they are doing wrong, I mean political leaders, and religious leaders come out to talk, they will say, separate religion from state.

“But when the state is in trouble, we’ll call religious leaders to come and explain. When we have failed in our credibility, because we have no provided for the people, and they’re not listening to us. We go to religious leaders for help.”

Adebayo noted that his party will be truthful to Nigerians, ensure freedom of worship and instill patriotism in Nigerians while entrenching justice for all.

Noting that interaction between the state and the church requires more respect and understanding, Adebayo pointed out that the CAN’s strategic policy document has already been captured by the Party’s manifesto.

He said he will implement it if he emerged President, while also expressing joy at the similitude of the CAN’s document and his party manifesto.

He stressed further, “So, we believe in moving the country forward. The problems still fall back to the leadership of the country.

“The quality of human beings that have been leading the country is just like what happened to the children of Israel who said they can now have their leader and God gave them Saul.

“So, to solve our problem, the leaders must be truthful and just. In this country, truth is an offense. If a leader is truthful, nobody will remember his religion or party.

“The church is to participate in politics. But don’t do it the way the politicians do it. Teach us the good way to do politics,” Adebayo said, adding that he will address poverty.

“I know that people are hungry, so they go to church. When they are seeking solutions to their problems, they go to the Church. So the religious organizations must be empowered to take care of the people. We will unite this country and do justice to everyone.”

In his remarks, the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said the idea was to review the Nigerian development because the association wants the progress of the country but will not endorse any candidate.

Okoh said the country is submerged by chaos ranging from insecurity adding that the CAN document to the presidential candidates is to help them review the crisis and address it.

According to him, “Yes, Christians must get involved in politics because it is biblical. Christians should not leave politics in the hands of people that are not supposed to be there. And leaders must consider righteousness in all they do.

“Part of what we are doing today is to ensure that righteousness is entrenched in the polity. CAN remains non-partisan, we will not endorse any candidate.”

“That is why we invited 18 of you to come so that as we are looking at you, we will know whether you are telling us the truth because we have the spirit of God in us.

“Nigerians have heard you, their decision will come up on the day of election. CAN have taken a number of stands on political issues in the country. It took us a long time to arrive at these decisions. Whatever you see or hear, it is important you verify.

“We have not changed our earlier position. At the same time, the Church is not in any enmity with any political party. The church is founded in love. But our position and understanding of the entire process will help us.”