CAN urges politicians and supporters to keep Jesus Christ out of partisan quarrels, saying His name should remain sacred.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is calling on politicians to exercise restraint in the way they invoke the name of Jesus Christ in political debates for the 2027 general elections, saying “Jesus is not a candidate.”
CAN was reacting to the recent comments by a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama Pee, in which she referenced Jesus Christ while making a political point about the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi and the 2027 elections.
The President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, in a statement, said although political discourse can be passionate and as such remarks may be intended to make a point, Jesus should not be a campaign slogan or weapon to advance one politician against another.
He said, “Jesus Christ is not a political candidate, a campaign slogan or a weapon to advance one politician against another. His name is sacred and should not be dragged into partisan contests in ways that elevate human beings, however popular or admired, to a place that belongs to God alone.
“We are free to support Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu or any other candidate. We are equally free to criticise them. But our political loyalty must never become so intense that we begin to speak of politicians in terms that diminish the reverence due to Christ.
“Let us argue about competence, character, policies, performance and the future of Nigeria. Let us disagree passionately if necessary, but let us leave Jesus Christ out of our partisan quarrels.
“No politician is the Messiah. No political party represents the salvation of the human spirit that Christ epitomizes. And no electoral victory is worth compromising the honour due to His name.
“As we approach another crucial electoral season, we urge politicians, their supporters and all Nigerians to conduct our political conversations with responsibility, restraint and respect for what we hold sacred.”