Pentecostal Clerics under the aegis of Apostolic Round Table and the Pentecostal Family Network have dissociated themselves from the purported endorsement of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s re-election bid by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.
The group cautioned pentecostal Pastors not to be involved in the endorsement syndrome of politicians at every election year.
The Convener of the Apostolic Round Table, Pastor Bolaji Akinyemi said the body had petitioned the national Christian Association of Nigeria on the alleged unwholesome conduct of the Lagos State chapter of the PFN.
Akinyemi described the public endorsement of Sanwo-Olu by a religious body, which was expected to be apolitical, as unethical.
“People conducting themselves in an unethical manner. Endorsing a political candidate is not biblical.
“Even when Joseph was preferred amongst his brethren the father coded his preferential love in a coat of many colours made for him alone.
“Our fathers of faith in this country like Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christians Church of God, Pastor W.F Kumuyi of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Oyedepo of the Living Faith Chapel and the likes have not openly endorsed a candidate, this is unpardonable in PFN.
“Given the embarrassing manner our election is being conducted, it is unethical for our fathers to do such. We really want to ascertain if our fathers mentioned initially are part of this endorsement, we need to hear from them.”
Also speaking, the Convener of the Pentecostal Family Network, Pastor Femi Don Ferguson stated the need for the neutrality of clerics, as regards public endorsement of political parties candidate.
Ferguson described such endorsement as a mark of a compromised church.
“On Saturday, we want to go into the election as one fold. Not as a multiple-fold. Uniformity must be maintained.
“We will not allow those who want to make gains from politics to embarrass the body of Christ.
“In the body of Christ, we have people we listen to, that is why there must be a reaction from them on this development. We will no more tolerate banditry in Christendom.
“We have many parties fielding candidates who are Christians APC, APGA, ADC, LP and others few individuals will not come out to disgrace and disorganise us.”
On the alleged threats by some faceless group that Igbos should not come out to vote, Pastor Fergusson noted that the main backers of Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, contrary to the widely held views, are Yorubas.
“No person or Yoruba man is telling Igbo not to vote, Yourbas are the ones promoting Peter Obi, even the oldest Yoruba Socio-Cultural group Afenifere publicly affirmed their support for him, we will not give in to banditry in Christendom.
“Tell all to come out and vote, Saturday election will be the most peaceful one,” Ferguson said.
