VIDEO: Most pastors are ignorant about politics - Femi Emmanuel

Presiding Pastor of Livingspring Chapel International, Femi Emmanuel, has voiced strong criticism regarding the political involvement of many Nigerian pastors. He described them as "completely ignorant" about politics, despite their evident passion and love for the country.

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My people, fellow pastors, fellow general overseers, they are very passionate about this country. They work hard, they believe in this country, they love this country. But when it comes to politics, they are completely ignorant.

Emmanuel argued that numerous clerics comment on political issues from the pulpit without a genuine understanding of how governance and policymaking function. "You are not where laws are made, you are not where policies are implemented, but you are shouting from the pulpit. That is shouting from the back of the fence," he stated during an interview on TVC News.

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You are not where laws are made, you are not where policies are implemented, but you are shouting from the pulpit. That is shouting from the back of the fence.

The cleric also addressed the debate surrounding Muslim-Muslim and Christian-Muslim political tickets. He questioned the tangible benefits for Christians or the church, citing the example of Pastor Yemi Osinbajo serving as Vice President under former President Muhammadu Buhari. Emmanuel described the vice president's role as a "spare tyre" under Nigeria's constitution, suggesting that advocating for such a position does not significantly benefit the church community.

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All this talk of Muslim-Muslim, Christian-Christian, I ask them, in 2019 it was not just a Christian-Muslim ticket, it was a Christian pastor ticket. Our brother and friend, Pastor Yemi Osinbajo, very cerebral, very brilliant, very outspoken. But what did he bring to the body of Christ as a church?

Drawing from his own experience as a former Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Emmanuel urged Christians, young people, and the public to actively participate in grassroots politics. He emphasized that true influence lies at the local ward level, encouraging active invasion of these political spaces rather than limiting engagement to prayers and sermons. He also criticized the notion that prayer alone can solve political problems.

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Our constitution says the vice president is a spare tyre. So what Christians are arguing for is, ‘We want a vice president.’ What would that bring to the church? Nothing. We are Nigerians.