Archbishop Fearon Blasts Oyedepo Over ‘Mad’ Comment On APC Voters

Chairman of Kaduna State Peace Commission (KAPECOM), Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon has said that religious leaders must see themselves as instruments of unity despite their personal political preferences.

Bishop Idowu-Fearon was reacting to a statement credited to the General Overseer of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, ‘the number of people who vote for APC in 2023 will determine the number of mad people in Nigeria’.

Fearon contended that it was improper for a religious figure to urge his followers to support a specific political party.

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In Kaduna State, 18 registered political parties, 14 candidates for governor, and candidates for the National Assembly and House of Assembly signed a peace accord during a high level conference of political parties, candidates, and stakeholders for peaceful campaigns and elections.

Hope Action Progress, Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LANW), ActionAid, Christian Aid, Global Community Engagement and Resilient Fund (GCERF), SARVE, and Global Peace Development (GPD) helped KAPCOM organise the event.

“Creating consensus and mobilising collaborative action for peaceful general elections in Kaduna State in 2023”.

The Anglican Bishop expressed disappointment that religious leaders seek to be viewed as in charge, saying that this position is harmful to the nation and its democratic processes.

Let candidates’ manifestos and competency speak for them, not their religion or tribe, he added, insisting that Nigerians must be permitted to cast their votes regardless of religion and tribe.

Religious leaders contribute to the political issues this nation faces; some of them aspire to power, which is a flawed idea that fuels unwarranted emotions.

Idowu-Fearon warned that the elections might not be decided in the first round because of the way political activities are progressing and how candidates are evaluated on a regional basis.

Regarding the South East’s campaign for the president, he stated: “Nigeria practises democracy which involves negotiation and not threat of any type.”

He said that politics should not be viewed as a do-or-die situation.

If not addressed holistically, insecurity and the burning down of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in the South East will only serve to politically advance the area.

He asserted that the region’s officials are not doing enough to address the issue.

“As election day draws near, the media must be impartial, religious leaders must instruct their followers to cast their votes based on candidates’ qualifications, and voters should pray for the candidates since casting a ballot is a sacred duty.

Above all, we pray for a violent-free conduct of the general elections in 2023. “Party candidates must be honest and should abide by the constitution, and their campaigns must be issue-based devoid of hate speeches and calumny,” he said.