Many Pastors Are Completely Ignorant of Politics – Pastor Femi Emmanuel

The Presiding Pastor of Livingspring Chapel International, Femi Emmanuel, has criticised the increasing involvement of church leaders in partisan political discourse, arguing that many pastors lack a proper understanding of politics and governance despite their genuine concern for Nigeria.

Speaking during an interview on TVC News’ Beyond the Headlines with Nifemi Oguntoye, on Wednesday, Emmanuel said many clerics make public pronouncements on political issues without participating in the processes where laws are made and government policies are shaped.

“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,” he said.

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According to the cleric, political commentary from the pulpit often comes without firsthand knowledge of how government functions.

“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,” Emmanuel stated.

He also questioned the emphasis placed on the religious identity of political office holders, insisting that Christians should focus less on whether candidates are Muslims or Christians and more on effective governance.

Reflecting on the 2019 presidential election, Emmanuel cited the tenure of former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a pastor, as an example.

“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?” he asked.

Emmanuel argued that Nigeria’s constitutional framework gives limited powers to the vice president, making the office incapable of advancing religious interests.

“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 said.

The former Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly urged Christians, youths and other citizens to become active participants in grassroots politics, particularly at the ward level, rather than remaining observers.

“Political fathers, their power is the ward. That’s where you and I should go. That’s where the corporate majority should go. That is where the youth should invade. That is where the church community should invade,” he said.

He also faulted the notion that prayers alone can resolve Nigeria’s political challenges, urging citizens to complement their faith with active civic engagement.

On election prophecies made by some clerics, Emmanuel dismissed claims of divine revelations predicting electoral outcomes, attributing them to ignorance.

“They don’t know. Ignorance,” he said.

When reminded that some pastors insisted they had received direct revelations from God, Emmanuel responded, “Well, you know, where you there when they heard from God, anybody can claim to hear from God.”