Presiding Pastor of Livingspring Chapel International, Femi Emmanuel, has cautioned Christian leaders against commenting on political issues without a sufficient understanding of governance and Nigeria’s constitutional framework.
According to Punch Newspaper, Emmanuel made the remarks during an interview on TVC News on Wednesday. While acknowledging that many pastors are genuinely concerned about Nigeria’s future, he said good intentions should be matched with a sound knowledge of politics, public administration and constitutional provisions.
The cleric argued that meaningful contributions to national discourse require an understanding of how government functions and how policies are developed and implemented. He urged religious leaders to be well informed before making public statements on political matters.
Addressing the role of the Vice President, Emmanuel said the office has fewer executive powers than many Nigerians assume and that expectations should reflect the responsibilities assigned to it by the Constitution.
“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.”
He urged Nigerians to prioritise national interest over religious considerations when discussing political representation.
