By Olusegun Olanrewaju
Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday threw another bombshell on the shaky dimensions of the incoming 2023 general elections.

He warned that the election could make or mar the country and that politicians may wreck the polity if religious leaders do not intervene.

He tasked religious leaders to assist in ensuring that politics is played according to the rules so that the nation could survive.

The ex-president was speaking at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Penthouse residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Daniel Okoh, paid him a courtesy visit.

Obasanjo warned that if politicians with no fear of God are allowed to have their way, the nation will regret it.

According to him, the 2023 elections may either make or break Nigeria.

*Tasks religious leaders against allowing politicians to wreck the country

The elder statesman, therefore, appealed to religious leaders in the country to do their best to ensure that bad politicians are prevented from destroying Nigeria.

A statement by the ex-president’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, said it all.

It requested that Nigerian politicians should be made more responsible by sundry religious leaders.

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“The next election, if we do not watch it, may make or break Nigeria. And I pray that it will make Nigeria,” he said.

Obasanjo added, “If you stand on the truth, you stand for justice and equity, it is then that politicians will not be able to mess us around, and I will say it with all sense of responsibility now if we do not watch it, the politicians will wreck this country, and we will all regret it.”

Rhetorically, he asked, “Where can we look for salvation? That is where you religious leaders have a significant role to play.

“I think it is the mistake of the past that we say politics is not for the righteous. Now, if we take the righteous away from politics, and we leave politics to the unrighteous, the unrighteous will smear the righteous with the unrighteousness that they will carry into politics, and will have nowhere to go.”

Obasanjo, however, commended the CAN president for his remark, saying the Sultan of Sokoto had spoken about Okoh to his personality.
He said, “I must say I am impressed with you and the Sultan, who is already singing your praises. You both can make a turnaround. You can work together.

“Having both the Sultan of Sokoto and the President of CAN already on the same page, maybe our politicians will listen, and if our politicians don’t listen, maybe our people will listen.”

In his earlier comments, the CAN president had commended the former president for his role in turning around the Christian faith in the country.

Okoh said his host has made valid contributions to Christianity in Nigeria.

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“In 1976,” he told Obasanjo, “You started with the establishment of this association, CAN, and in September 1999, you formed the Inter-Religious Faith Council (which took off in) 1999.
“In the political sector, you set up the National Political Reform Conference, which I was privileged to be a delegate to, representing the Christian faith. These were the few I could remember as I was planning for this visit.

“Baba, you have played important roles in the political history of Nigeria and Africa, particularly your current role in the Horn of Africa, where the task is to ensure peace in the region. These are, no doubt, valid contributions to Christianity.”

On Obasanjo’s task, Okoh hinted that it was among the resolutions reached the Inter-Religious Council meeting held in Lagos, recently.

The CAN leader stated, “The council has resolved not to leave the political space to the politicians, that the religious leaders must get involved, not to be partisan, but, must give leadership to make sure that the values of our religion are brought to the space to help us live in peace and work for the unity of the nation, including fighting for justice. We are committed to the call Baba made.”

Okoh said he was excited by the visit, adding, “And I can see it, that (Obasanjo’s comments) were coming from his heart. He has the passion and definitely, we are not going to take it for granted.”

On the CAN president’s entourage were the association’s Assistant General Secretary, Abiodun Sanyaolu, South-West chairman, Elder Adeaga, Lagos and Ogun states CAN chairmen, Tunde Akinsanya (who also represented Francis Wale Oke), and S.T Adegbite; all bishops.

The entourage also included Emmanuel Alamajo, Emmanuel Nnana, Joseph (all venerables), and the personal assistant, Victor Isoke.