A RIGOROUS EXAMINATION OF THE ALLEGED MALEVOLENCE OF POLITICS ....Aare Amerijoye Donald DOT.B.

The notion that politics and its participants are inherently evil, as asserted by certain religious sects, demands rigorous scrutiny. This audacious claim triggered a spirited debate during my recent encounter with a group of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Despite an intense discussion, we parted ways without a consensus on the matter. While they resolutely maintained that politics is malevolent and its practitioners equally so, my stance was decidedly contrary, though we found common ground on numerous other issues.

Reflecting on this topic, I am reminded of the adage, "The best of times are also the worst of times," for in an era riddled with misinformation, straightforward truths are often contorted into grotesque distortions.

Does it not require the wisdom of Plato to recognize that societies falter when their most knowledgeable individuals are excluded from governance? As Edmund Burke aptly noted, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." This insight remains profoundly relevant today: when the enlightened remain indifferent to their governance, they inevitably find themselves ruled by fools.

Human memory is fickle at the best of times. In an age of disinformation like ours, plain truths are likely to be twisted into grotesque travesties. One might require the genius of Plato to know that societies suffer because their men of knowledge are excluded from seats of power. Indeed, as it was in Edmund Burke's time, so it is today: the wise suffer from their indifference to governance, only to find themselves ruled by fools. Burke once said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." This dictum is as relevant now as it was in his day.

We do not need to possess the saintly minds of contemporary religious leaders such as Adeboye, Kumuyi, Oyedepo, Bakare, Okogie, and even myself Amerijoye who loves the roles of the clergymen with Saint Mind to understand that society is doomed to sorrow if the righteous abstain from leadership.

Indeed, evil leadership breeds oppression, poverty, suffering, deceit, greed, and an unbridled lust for money, fame, and power. Conversely, righteous leadership is the solution to these afflictions. It is an undeniable truth that leadership permeates all aspects of human life, and malevolent leaders devastate those they govern, indifferent to their welfare while they themselves pursue insatiable wealth and power.

Christians and Muslims alike should actively support good governance not merely through prayer and insistence on truth but also by participating in the political process. Their voices should resonate powerfully against misgovernance. Religious platforms, whether from churches or mosques in Ekiti, Sokoto, Yenagoa or anywhere in Nigeria, should vehemently denounce those who make life difficult for the common man.

Political engagement should not be foreign to Christians or Muslims. By exercising their civic rights, they implicitly influence political outcomes. If we agree that certain leaders are evil, why then do we vote for them? Consider the socio-political departments within the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). If political involvement were wrong, why would church leaders accept gifts and favours from politicians? The Holy Bible itself recounts the exploits of righteous political figures such as King David, Governor Daniel, Vice President Joseph, High Priest Samuel, and Prophet Elijah.

It is hypocritical when those guilty of various moral failings—murderers, liars, fornicators, thieves in the society even in some of our churches or mosques—castigate politicians. Clergy and laity alike should rise against economic exploiters and advocate boldly against poverty amidst abundance. As the biblical injunction states, "The truth shall set you free," so too must truth be a living, daily experience.

Christians and Muslims should resist the temptation of patronage and speak out against underdevelopment wherever it manifests. Silence in the face of temptation leads to moral compromise, while honesty leads to power and victory. To expose temptation to the light is to free oneself from its grip.

Both leaders and the masses must be regularly informed of the truth to foster a better society. While we cannot prevent crows from flying overhead, we can certainly prevent them from nesting in our hair. Thus, promoting righteous leadership through every available medium—television, radio, print, educational institutions, religious gatherings, and more—is imperative. Through concerted effort, Nigeria can achieve greatness. Let us all do our part.

 

Aare Amerinjoye Donald, the Aare Atayese of Odooro writes from Ado Ekiti, Nigeria