Ekiti State governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has called for greater involvement of Christians in partisan politics.
Oyebanji, who made the call on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti, when he received the General Overseer, of Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev’d Sam Aboyeji and his wife, Rev (Mrs) Olabisi Aboyeji, said a more inclusive political landscape would lead to policies that better reflect the values and concerns for the people.
The governor said a good number of Christians who can add value to the system would rather stay out of politics because of their belief that it is a dirty game, meant for a certain group of people.
Rather than see politics as a dirty game, Oyebanji said Christians should consider it as a viable opportunity to contribute to nation building, make positive impact on the society and promote the values aligned with God.
He opined that more Christian participation in politics would also provide moral leadership in politics, promoting honesty, integrity and ethical behavior among elected officials and be a voice for right decision-making and accountability in governance.
While urging ministers of God and churches in general to play a pivotal role in inspiring and educating their congregation about the importance of civic participation, the governor admonished the General Overseer not to relent in praying for more development in Ekiti State and the country in general.
“Most Christians don’t want to come near politics, but the Bible says when the righteous is in authority, the people rejoice.
“And to get to authority in Nigeria you have to be involved in politics and so when the bible says the righteous must be in authority, there must be a path to get to it and the only path we have now is through political office or appointment. So, we should continue to pray and encourage Christians to participate in politics,” the governor stated.
