Pastor Oyedepo, the general overseer of the Living Faith Church, has come under fire for allegedly claiming that only insane people will support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming general elections.
Reports going round quoted the renowed preacher Pastor Oyedepo to have said; “the number of votes that APC will get in 2023 is directly proportional to the number of mad people in Nigeria.”
However, Nigerians’ reactions to this have been conflicted. The country is suffering through difficulty under the APC leadership, and while some claim that the pastor has no authority to decide for people who to vote for, others claim that the cleric’s remarks are absolutely genuine.
Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, the chairman of the Kaduna State Peace Commission (KAPECOM), responded to the situation by stating that religious leaders, regardless of their individual political beliefs, must see themselves as instruments of unification.
Idowu-Fearon contended that it was improper for a religious leader to advise his audience to support a specific political party.
He spoke outside a high-level gathering of political parties, candidates, and stakeholders for peaceful campaigns and elections in Kaduna State, where 18 registered political parties, 14 contenders for governor, and candidates for the National Assembly and House of Assembly signed a peace accord.
KAPCOM organized the event with assistance from Christian Aid, Hope Action Progress, Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LANW), ActionAid, Global Community Engagement and Resilient Fund (GCERF), SARVE, and Global Peace Development (GPD).
The theme was: “Building consensus and mobilising collective action for peaceful 2023 general elections in Kaduna State”.
The Anglican Bishop expressed disappointment that religious leaders seek to be viewed as in charge, saying that this position is harmful to the nation and its democratic processes.
Let candidates’ manifestos and competency speak for them, not their religion or tribe, he added, insisting that Nigerians must be permitted to cast their votes regardless of religion and tribe.
Religious leaders contribute to the political issues this nation faces; some of them aspire to power, which is a flawed idea that fuels unwarranted emotions.
Idowu-Fearon warned that the elections might not be decided in the first round because of the way political activities are progressing and how candidates are evaluated on a regional basis.
On the agitation by the South East for the presidency, he said: “Nigeria is practicing democracy which requires negotiation and not threat of any kind, adding that politics should not be seen as a do or die affairs.
“Insecurity and burning down of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in the South East will only end up drawing the region backward politically if not addressed holistically”.
He said leaders of the region are certainly not doing enough to address the situation.
“As we approach the elections, the media must be objective, religious leaders must educate their members to vote based on competence and pray for the candidates because voting is a religious responsibility.
“Party candidates must be honest and should abide by the constitution and their campaigns must be issue based devoid of hate speeches and calumny, above all we pray for a violent free conduct of 2023 general elections,” he said.
Also reacting, Real Chukwuma said; “It’s good to tell your people what is right and the truth, we can’t continue with this APC unwilling to do things right. We need a man with a big heart who can set Nigeria free from the wickedness of UK,EU,US & China. I know many don’t understand this but in due time thank u.”
Ahamefula Joash said; “Bishop Oyedepo is right, if after witnessing the killings, insecurities and economic failure to the highest proportion any one who still vote for APC is MAD. Bishop Oyedepo is in order.”
While this was going on, some Nigerians disputed Pastor Oyedepo, the leader of the Living Faith Church, endorsing Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential nominee.
According to the priest, Nigeria needs a deliverer in the election of 2023, not a leader, to save the nation.
A journalist tweeted his joy at seeing Obi in his church, however numerous netizens differed with him over whether Oyedepo supported Obi or not in the comments section of the article.
