Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, and Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere at the anniversary celebration. CREDIT: Anambra State New Media | X
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, on Sunday cautioned politicians against turning churches and other places of worship into political arenas, insisting that sacred spaces must remain neutral grounds for people of all political persuasions.
Soludo made the remarks while attending the 30th anniversary celebration of the ministry of Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, popularly known as Odumeje, at the Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry in Onitsha.
Addressing the congregation in a video posted on Anambra X handle, the governor stressed the need to clearly separate politics from worship.
“I don’t use the place of worship for politics. The place of worship should be a holy place that people of all political persuasion should come and worship God in peace. It should not be a place for politics, but you will separate the politics.
“Politicians, there is a venue for politics. If you want to worship God, you’ll go to the house of God. We must separate the two things clearly,” Soludo said.
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He said that he had taken a firm personal stance against using churches for political campaigns.
“Six months before my election, I took a deliberate decision. I never went to any church to cup a microphone to ask them to vote for me or to campaign. It was a deliberate decision. I worship in the government chapel until the election day and afterwards,” the governor stated.
Soludo continued, “We must never politicise the church. We must never politicise the place of worship. Politicians, keep off churches. Keep off places of worship. That’s a deliberate message… My kind of a consistency of character.”
The governor’s remarks come as politicians campaign for offices ahead of the 2027 general elections. Seeking the approval and endorsement of religious leaders is also a common practice among politicians in Nigeria.
Soludo, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, is serving his second term as Anambra governor.
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Source: Punch · Saheed Oyelakin
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